In This Week’s Newsletter

Quick Links 

Apply for the HANA Center’s After School Youth Drumming Program by TOMORROW, February 12th! 

Our amazing partner the HANA Center is resuming their Korean drumming program for Albany Park high-school aged youth from immigrant families! The drumming practice will be in person and is for vaccinated students only. 

Applications are due by TOMORROW, February 12th! Apply here. 

Public Community Meeting, Wednesday, February 16th: Zoning Proposal for 2820 N Elston

A Public Community Meeting has been scheduled for a proposal for rezoning at 2820 N Elston. 

The developer, Reinventive, is seeking to construct a 40 unit building that is more family oriented, with 4,100 sq ft of commercial space. They are looking to provide 20% or more affordable units, bring community art to the development, and make the commercial space accessible to community benefit service providers.

Date: Wednesday, February 16th | 6:00pm | Virtually on zoom 

Register here to hear from the developer and their team and to ask questions.

Contact our office during regular hours with any further questions or email us at info@33rdward.org.

Black History Month High School Essay Contest: Due February 28th!  

Happy Black History Month! 

Every February, we take time to celebrate the contributions and accomplishments of Black people in this country. As we witness our Black neighbors and friends continue to make history, break barriers, and create beauty, we stand in support and awe.

In celebration, we wanted to share that the annual 2022 Black History Month High School Essay Contest from Chicago Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin is now accepting submissions! 

Two Chicago Public School High School seniors will win a scholarship up to $1,500 to help finance their college expenses. The deadline to submit is February 28, 2022. 

Learn more here! 

Housing Support

Eviction Sealing Workshop: Wednesday, February 23 at 6:00pm (online) 
Online training in English & Spanish

Do you want to know how to seal an eviction? The Lawyer’s Committee for Better Housing and local partners invite individuals and community based organizations that want to learn how to navigate the eviction sealing process to a free workshop. Register here!

The training will teach community members how to seal an eviction with or without legal representation, cover best practices on the sealing process, and provide step-by-step instructions to create and file a motion to seal. 

Eviction Support for Tenants

The state’s eviction moratorium ended October 3rd. The City of Chicago Department of Housing is working to support Chicagoans who will no longer be protected by the moratorium. Even though the eviction moratorium is coming to a close, there is help, both legal and financial, to keep residents in their homes.

Here are some key things to remember when facing an eviction.

1. Don’t self-evict. A notice of eviction from your landlord does not mean you need to leave your home right away. Only the Sheriff can legally remove you from your home.
2. Get legal help. Free legal assistance is available to Chicago renters. Go to www.Rentervention.com , which is provided by the Lawyers Committee for Better Housing, a Department of Housing delegate agency.
3. Get financial help. The Department of Housing maintains a current list of places residents can apply for emergency rental assistance at Chicago.gov/RentHelp.

You can find more details on renters’ rights and other resources at Chicago.gov/Eviction.

Chicago Local School Council Elections

Apply by March 4th to be a candidate!

CPS Local School Council (LSC) elections are coming up soon! Whether you’re a parent, teacher or community member, this is a great way to get involved in your local school community. This year, the deadline to submit an application to run as a candidate is 3 p.m. Friday, March 4th. 

Learn more about LSC responsibilities and how to apply here.

Read more about LSC’s on our website. 

LSC members are elected every two years by parents, community members and school staff. Members serve two-year terms, with the exception of student representatives, who serve one-year terms.

*New this year: students in sixth grade and up may now run for a seat on LSCs!

*Interested in being an LSC Election Judge? You can be paid $250 per workday! Apply here. 

Attend this LSC 201: Candidate Workshop on Thursday, February 17th, 6-7pm

Register to attend on zoom.

This workshop provides resources and tools to support candidates for the 2022 LSC elections. Discussion areas include preparation for candidate forums, tips for engaging your school community and more. Open to all CPS parents, caregivers, community and staff.

Horner Park Farmers Market: Apply to participate by April 1st! 

Are you a farmer or food vendor? Join the Horner Park Farmers Market for their 8th season!   Check out the 2022 Market Guidelines, 2022 Market Application, and 2022 Market Application for Business/Nonprofit to get started! 

Details: 

• Location: Horner Park, 2741 W. Montrose Ave., Chicago, IL 60618 (Horner Park is a Chicago Park District park).  Map
• Dates: Saturdays, June 4 through October 1, with a possible extension through October 22.
• Hours: 7:30am-9am setup, 9am-1pm open, 1pm-2pm takedown.
• Fees:
  
  • $35 application fee (non-refundable). Payable via check or via PayPal.
  • $30 per date for a space of approximately 11’x11’, fitting a 10’x10’ canopy; $10 for each additional adjacent space, up to 3 total spaces ($30 for 1 space, $40 for 2 adjacent spaces, $50 for 3 adjacent spaces).
  • Vendors who pay for the entire 2022 regular season of 18 markets prior to the first market will receive a discount of two free markets, paying for 16 markets instead of all 18.
• Deadline: Applications are due by April 1 for first consideration — apply today!

Valentines Day Fun: Free Concert at Irving Park Lutheran Church on February 13th! 

The Irving Park Fine Arts Committee Presents: Beatriz Helguera-Snow, piano, and Andrew Snow, cello will perform a free concert on Sunday, February, 13th at 2:00 p.m. at Irving Park Lutheran Church, 4100 N. Harding Ave. The concert is the perfect way to celebrate Valentine’s day, or get in a little pre-Super Bowl culture! The married couple will perform music of composers from Spain, Mexico, Brazil and Argentina.

In accordance with city of Chicago mandates, proof of vaccination, IDs and masks are required. Vaccinated children 5 and over are welcome. Visit here for information.

Covid-19 Updates

KN95 Mask Delivery for Seniors by the 33rd Ward Sage Brigade 

Need a mask? Please submit your information and a volunteer will contact you. 

Free at-home COVID-19 Tests 

Free test kits are now available from the federal government.

Submit your information here to receive four rapid antigen tests to your home. Unfortunately, there is a limit of one order per household.

Need help applying? Call our office at 773-840-7880. 

Report Complaints for Pop-up Testing Sites
Block Club Chicago has been reporting on a chain of pop-up testing sites, The Center for Covid Control, which is now closed amidst a state investigation. The chain reportedly lied to customers about test results and other extremely serious problems.

The office of the Attorney General urges residents to exercise caution before visiting any testing site. Read the full consumer alert here. It is recommended that residents first try to utilize a state-sponsored testing site. For information on COVID-19 testing in Chicago, go to Chicago.gov/covidtesting. 

Complaints related to COVID-19 testing sites may be filed with Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul’s Office. Click here to file a complaint or call the AG’s consumer fraud hotline at 1-800-386-5438.

At-Home Vaccinations Get your whole family vaccinated at home! CDPH is offering vaccination appointments at home for up to 10 family members. Click here to set up your appointment!

CPS Vaccination Events

Find your student a COVID-19 vaccine appointment this week through CPS: 

– Permanent sites

– Mobile Events

– School-Based Health Centers

–  Sign up for weekly COVID testing at CPS

Other Vaccination Events

Booster doses for everyone 16 years and older are now available at all CDPH clinics and even at home! Getting boosted helps keep you and your family protected from the virus. Make a plan for your family at chi.gov/covidvax.

Some easy, nearby options for all 33rd Ward residents age 5 and up to get vaccinated include:

Theodore Roosevelt High School

3436 W Wilson Ave

Mondays-Wednesdays 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Anyone 5+ Pfizer

Also 18+ Johnson & Johnson

Walk-ins welcome, appointments can be made online. Click this link to IDPH registration

Additional information available on the CPS COVID vaccination page.

Swedish Hospital: Walk-In’s Welcome

Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Please note: The Vaccine Clinic has moved to the Professional Plaza, 2740 W. Foster Ave. Suite 108 (building directly across from our Emergency Department).www.swedishcovenant.org/covid/covid-19-vaccine

Get tested: Anyone, including people who are fully vaccinated, should consider getting tested before joining indoor gatherings with others who are not in your household. Find testing locations here.

Feb. 16: Junta Comunitaria ‘We Will Chicago’ 

North River Commission lo invita a unirse a sus vecinos en línea para discutir la creación de viviendas más asequibles y seguras a través del plan “We Will Chicago”. Traé tu voz a la mesa virtual el miércoles 16 de febrero a las 6 pm. ¡Nuestro objetivo es crear comunidades seguras y asequibles y apoyar el bienestar de los residentes, los vecindarios y todo Chicago! Demos juntos los siguientes pasos. RSVP en https://www.eventbrite.com/e/junta-comunitaria-para-vivienda-y-barrios-parte-de-we-will-chicago-registration-244094381867. 

“We Will Chicago” es una nueva iniciativa de planificación de toda la ciudad bajo la alcaldesa Lori E. Lightfoot que fomentará el crecimiento y la vitalidad de los vecindarios al mismo tiempo que aborda las desigualdades sociales y económicas. Su participación ayudará a promover los objetivos de utilizar un compromiso significativo e inclusivo para dar forma al plan.

North River Commission y sus socios de We Will Chicago están ofreciendo un número limitado de boletos de apoyo comunitario, que brindan a los asistentes una tarjeta de regalo de $25. *Es requerido atender y participar en la junta para recibir la tarjeta. 

Community Safety Updates

Shots fired near Kimball and Ainslie 

At approximately 6:50am on February 10, 2022 the Chicago Police Department responded to shots fired on the corner of Kimball and Ainslie. A report from the 17th District to our office states that an offender shot at a car impacting the driver. Our office is communicating with the 17th District to determine the status of the gunshot victim. 

The Alderwoman is in communication with the district and has reached out to our neighbors at the Makki Masjid mosque and American Indian Center to offer any support needed.

If you have further questions or information please reach out to the 17th District CAPS office at CAPS.017District@chicagopolice.org or by phone at 312-742-4410. You may also contact our 33rd Ward Office at info@33rdward.org or by phone at 773-840-7880. 

Violence Prevention Grants Available

Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICIJIA) has opened grant opportunities for organizations of various sizes to fund violence prevention work. Select communities are eligible to apply for the grant. To read through eligibility visit this link.

17th District CAPS Meeting Virtual

The 17th District has resumed beat meetings virtually.

Beat meetings are a resource for neighbors to get the latest update on occurrences of crime and other related activities in the ward. Our office and neighboring ward offices attend these meetings regularly and provide additional news related to ward activities. See below for a full calendar of 17th District 2022 beat meetings. 

Beat 1711 and 1712 meeting link.

Beat 1713 and 1724 meeting link

Beat 1722 and 1723 meeting link

Beat 1731 meeting link

Beat 1732 and 1733 meeting link

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. Please contact the 17th District Community Policing Office / CAPS, if there are any questions or concerns.

Email: caps.017district@chicagopolice.org

Telephone: 312-742-4588

Utility Scammers

We want to keep reminding neighbors not to let anyone into their homes unless they explicitly requested someone from a utility company to come out. There was an instance where a neighbor had a fake utility worker ask to access his home and the worker came in, pretended to provide a service, and stole several items of value and money. The family did not realize that they were being robbed until after the fact which goes to show how sneaky these individuals can be. 

ComEd will never call or come to your home or business to:

• Sell you electricity
• Ask for your account number
• Ask you to make a direct payment with a prepaid cash card, cryptocurrency such as Bitcoin, or third-party electronic banking app such as Cash App, Zelle, QuickPay or Venmo
• Ask for your personal information such as Social Security number, Tax ID, or bank information

Please be aware of potential email and web scams:

• Carefully review messages originating from outside your organization’s network
• Check the name of the sender and business in the email and make sure it matches the name and business in the email address. Look for misspellings and zeros in place of the letter O.
• Do you recognize the sender? Don’t hesitate to make a phone call to verify a message is being sent from a trusted source. Use a phone number from your own records or the company’s official website and not the number provided in the email.
• Confirm the contents of the email look legitimate especially when a request can have financial impacts, such as transferring money
• Hover over website links before clicking to confirm legitimacy of the site

If at any time you are uncomfortable, or you feel you are experiencing suspicious behavior, call ComEd immediately at 800-EDISON1.

Opportunities for Local Small Businesses

Small Business Improvement Fund (SBIF) Grants Available: Applications Open March 1st-31st 

The Department of Planning and Development (DPD) and SomerCor is rolling out the Small Business Improvement Fund (SBIF) grant program for applications in March! 

• Lawrence/Kedzie, North Park and Albany Park

Applications open: 9 a.m., Tuesday, March 1stApplications close: 5 p.m., Thursday, March 31st

The SBIF program uses revenue from TIF districts to help owners of commercial and industrial properties to repair or remodel their facilities for their own business or on behalf of tenants. Tenant businesses are also eligible to apply on their own. Program participants can receive grants for 30 to 90 percent of project costs, with a maximum grant of $150,000 for commercial properties and $250,000 for industrial properties. The grants are administered by SomerCor on the City’s behalf and do not have to be repaid.

Please note that residential projects are not eligible for the SBIF program, and residential developers should not apply.

Interested? Attend DPD’s Webinar: March 2nd at 1p.m. 

DPD and SomerCor will host an informational webinar to review program requirements and the application process, including an overview of program changes adopted by City Council under Mayor Lightfoot.

SBIF Informational Webinar
1 p.m. Wednesday, March 2  | Register

For additional information, visit www.chicago.gov/sbif.

Chicago Recovery Grants Available: Due March 10th

Chicago Recovery Plan community development grants are being made available to Chicago entrepreneurs, small businesses and developers. You can learn more about the Chicago Recovery Grant here. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until March 10th. 

Tax Season 

Free Tax Prep Help

The City’s Tax Prep Chicago  free income tax preparation and assistance program is back, offering expanded in-person, drop-off, and by-appointment services at eight locations across Chicago starting as early as January 24.

Eligible Chicagoans could receive up to $7628 from the federal and state Earned Income Tax Credits alone, in addition to other credits. But many people may not claim all the credits they deserve without the help of knowledgeable preparers. 

Families earning up to $58,000 and individuals earning up to $32,000 are eligible to take advantage of the free and confidential Tax Prep assistance at eight sites across Chicago.  Volunteer tax preparers certified through IRS-approved training will assist them with federal and state income tax returns.

For more information about how to access the free tax assistance program, Chicagoans can visit the City’s tax assistance website at www.TaxPrepChicago.org or call (312) 588-6900 to schedule an appointment.

Free Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic

Winter Weather Preparations

Snow Shoveling

Is a business or multi-unit building not clearing the sidewalk? You can call our office, or submit an “uncleared sidewalk complaint” by calling 311 or online “Snow – Uncleared Sidewalk or Bike Lane Request”.

Do you need help shoveling? If you are a neighbor who is physically unable to shovel snow and are in need of support, or if you would like to volunteer to help your neighbors clear their sidewalks, you can sign up here.City Warming Centers When temperatures are at 32 degrees or below – warming areas are available at the City’s six community service centers. View locations and more information here.Schedule: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. *City-operated libraries and park facilities also may activate warming areas, if needed, including during evening hours, weekends and holidays.

Need help heating your home?  Bill payment assistance is available through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and the Share the Warmth program.

Interested? Peoples Gas customers can call the Community Economic Development Association (CEDA) at 800-571-2332, or go to cedaorg.net.   

Click here to read more about your rights as a utility customer and ways to save on heating costs this winter courtesy of the Citizens Utility Board.

Emergency Heating Repair Program

The Chicago Department of Housing (DOH) Emergency Heating Repair Program provides a grant up to $24,999 to low-moderate income, owner-occupied residential building of one to four (1-4) units. Interested? Homeowners can download an application package through April 1, 2022 at www.chicago.gov/ehrp. Homeowners can call the Department of Housing’s customer service line at 312.744.3653 for more information.

More Resources for Residents

Chicago Coalition for the Homeless Mutual Aid Fund

The Chicago Coalition for the Homeless Mutual Aid Fund opened this week!

This fund provides a one-time emergency grant of $500 to 120 individuals and families experiencing homelessness. This includes individuals or families who are living in shelters, living outside, or temporarily staying with family and friends. The application is short, low-barrier, and simple to access.

Want to apply? Submit online or call 312-641-4148. 

For more information, visit the Mutual Aid Fund FAQ.

Utility Billing Relief

Utility Billing Relief (UBR) provides low-income City of Chicago residents with a reduced rate on their water, sewer, and water-sewer tax as well as debt relief for those who demonstrate they can manage the reduced rate bills for one year. Benefits for UBR participants include:

• A reduced rate on water, sewer, and water-sewer tax.
• No late payment penalties or debt collection activity including water shut-off.
• Debt forgiveness after successfully completing one year with no past-due balance.

To learn more and apply, visit https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/fin/provdrs/utility_billing/svcs/utility-bill-relief-program.html

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Monday: 12:00 PM – 7 PM

Tues – Thurs: 10 AM – 5 PM

Friday: 9 AM – 4PM  

️E-mail info@33rdward.org anytime for service requests or general queries

️ Call us at 773-840-7880 during business hours

Follow us on Facebook or Twitter

Check out our ward website for info on services and events: https://www.33rdward.org/

Best,

Rossana Rodriguez