Earlier this week, I was proud to help pass two urgent and critical ordinances that were before the City Council. The first was $51 million in emergency funding to provide the logistical support to temporarily housing the arrived asylum seekers. The second was the permanent expansion of the city’s pandemic-era outdoor dining program.

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Although it was incredibly disappointing to see this much needed funding delayed by a handful of City Council colleagues, I was hearted to see the overwhelming response of support in authorizing the use of emergency funding this past Wednesday. This funding will enable the Office of Emergency Management to address the critical need to open additional shelters to temporarily house the people who are seeking asylum here in Chicago. Make no mistake – this is a crisis of care and a crisis of capacity. Over the last few decades, our city has chosen to disinvest in the structures of care designed to respond to people in crisis.

In addition to the city’s efforts, I continue to be deeply involved in and moved by the emergent network of mutual aid networks that are responding to the immediate needs of new arrivals here in Chicago. To get involved in that effort here in the 33rd Ward, click here. 

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Expanded outdoor dining has been a lifeline to the many restaurants and bars that form the beating heart of Avondale, Albany Park, and Irving Park over the last few years. Although I was hopeful that the expanded outdoor dining would be made permanent during the last City Council, I’m incredibly excited to see that it’s one of the very things that this new Council acted upon and moved forward. A few of the highlights of the outdoor dining program include extending sidewalk cafes in front of neighboring businesses, restaurants and taverns with patios being able to expand into the parking lane, and that groups of three or more restaurants and taverns can apply for the opportunity to apply for a street closure and pedestrianization. 

The Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection will begin reviewing applications the week of June 5th. Please contact the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection to learn more at 312.744.6060. For additional information, contact info@33rdward.org.

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June is Gun Violence Awareness Month. The American Public Health Association has identified gun violence as the leading cause of preventable death in America. Gun violence continues to impact too many people in 33rd Ward, too many neighborhoods across the city, and too many communities across the country. If you’re thinking about how to make an impact this June, this is an excellent opportunity to get involved with and support organizations like Israel’s Gifts of Hope, Live Free Illinois, and Transforming Community Safety Collective (TCSC) to name just a few organizations. 

Israel’s Gifts of Hope offers care, love, and support to families and loved ones immediately impacted by gun violence in the 33rd Ward. 

Live Free Illinois is a faith-based advocacy organization that seeks to eradicate the root causes of gun violence in communities.  

TCSC creates safety on the NW Side by forming relationships with neighbors and building collective power. TCSC activates community spaces and organizes to advance local policies that prevent violence, address trauma, and ensure every resident can live with dignity

Additionally, keep an eye out for an upcoming Transforming Community Safety Collective event on June 12th. 

Please keep these organizations and groups like them that are trying to reduce gun violence in the front of your minds this month. 

In This Week’s Newsletter

Quick Links 

*Want more information on community opportunities and job postings? Check out our Community Bulletin!

*Block party applications are open! Read more under “Forms” on the Neighborhood Services page, and apply here!

CPS Counselor of the Year Award

Each year the Illinois School Counselor Association (ISCA) selects one school counselor to represent the state as the School Counselor of the Year. The ISCA School Counselor of the Year award recognizes full-time school counselors who have demonstrated leadership, collaborated and built relationships with all members of the school community, and advocated for the school counseling profession. This year, Lisa Delgadillo at Hibbard Elementary School was awarded CPS Counselor of the Year!! 

Since joining Hibbard Elementary in 2021, Ms. Delgadillo immediately demonstrated her leadership and ability to build relationships within and outside the school community. Delgadillo has led numerous professional development sessions for Hibbard teachers, including training on how to implement Calm Classroom to mediate and de-escalate disputes and disruptive behaviors. She has also led outreach to families, working with students and family members to find resources they need outside the classroom, including clothing, living essentials, and therapy resources. In addition to her duties as a school counselor at Hibbard, Delgadillo is also the Model Counselor for CPS Network 1. In this role, she serves as the point of contact for counselors throughout the Network and provides colleagues with feedback and support through model counseling sessions to address common questions and challenges. 

Congratulations, Ms. Delgadillo, on this well-deserved award, and thank you so much for your service and care. Our community is grateful for your loving work, and we are incredibly proud of your tremendous achievement!

Sage Brigade Meeting, June 22nd

Come build community with your fellow seniors in the 33rd Ward! At this event seniors will have the opportunity to meet other seniors in the area, talk with Alderwoman Rossanna Rodriguez- Sanchez and staff, and hear from community organizations, such as The Friendship Center. This event will be held in our new office space at 4747 N Sawyer Ave. Light refreshments will be offered and RSVP is not required. 

The Sage Brigade is a group of Seniors who came together in 2020 to support each other during COVID. We began by delivering masks and artwork from public school students in the neighborhood and wish to continue the work by having regular Senior meetups.

33rd Ward Resurfacing Project Notice: W Lawrence Ave from N Central Park Ave to N Francisco Ave

Resurfacing over the course of the summer will stretch from North Central Park Avenue to North Francisco Avenue. Work is expected to begin this coming week – June 5th – and the anticipated completion date is August 31st. The work will include ADA sidewalk improvements, curb and gutter removal and replacement as needed for ADA and drainage compliance, pavement patching, milling and paving the existing asphalt pavement, concrete bus pads and striping.

During construction, temporary “No Parking” signs will be periodically installed as required for each activity listed above. These temporary signs will restrict parking during working hours, while adhering to rush hour restrictions, for the completion of the work. 

For questions regarding construction, please contact our office at info@33rdward.org. 

Community Advisory Council Applications

The Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA) is currently accepting applicants to our Community Advisory Council. This council is responsible for serving as a conduit between the broader Chicago community and COPA in order to assist the agency in creating and maintaining an effective and transparent dialog with the citizens we serve. Council members will share perspectives from the community about the agency’s work, as well as provide input on COPA-related topics that affect City of Chicago residents.

This is a great opportunity for interested Chicago residents to get involved with COPA and civilian oversight of law enforcement. 

Click here for more information and to apply.

Spanish Language Edition of Openlands’s Treekeepers Course

Environmental group Openlands is offering a Spanish language version of its popular tree stewardship course this summer. The course is offered free of charge, but spots are limited. Classes take place at McKinley Park on Tuesday and Thursdays from 6:15 to 8 from July 11 to August 3rd.  Learn more here and sign-up here. You can also email treekeepers@openlands.org for additional information. 

Neighborhood Events

1. North River Youth Council Wellness Festival, June 3rd

2. St. Mary of Providence Open House, June 3rd

3. Drake Gardens Summer Kick-Off, June 4th

4. North River Commission Environment Meeting, June 6th

5. HANA Center Youth Open House, June 8th

6. 2023 Puerto Rican Festival, June 8th-11th

7. Pop Up Skatepark, June 11th

8. 312 River Run, June 12th

9. Know Your Rights Event, June 14th

10. 17th District Council Meeting, June 15th

11. Celebration of Authors Gala, June 16th

12. Flavors of Albany Park, June 21st

13. Horner Park Brewfest, July 21st

Youth Opportunities

1. Mayor’s Youth Commission Accepting Application for 2023-2024 Cohort, Due July 1st

The Mayor’s Youth Commission is a group of up to 32 Chicagoans between the ages of 14 and 19 that serve as a liaison between the Chicago Mayor’s Office and Chicago’s youth. The Commission meets monthly to foster youth-driven civic engagement and amplify youth vices to impact the City’s critical policy conversations. Any youth that is interested must apply by July 1st.

This is a paid opportunity for youth and a great way for young people to get their voice heard! Click here to apply today!

For any questions about the application or for more information about the Mayor’s Youth Council, please email mayorsyouthcommission@cityofchicago.org

2. Empower Youth Career Training & Development

3. Chicago Fire Student Discount

Chicago Fire is offering student passes to all CPS and local college students in Chicago. Click here to get yours today.

4. Chicago Park District Summer Camp and Programs – Registration Open Now!

The Chicago Park District’s list of summer camps and other programs is available to view now on their registration portal.

For a list of camps and programs in Irving Park, Albany Park, and North Park, including programs at North Park Village and Peterson Park – see here!

5. Summer Job Opportunities with Chicago Parks District

The Chicago Parks District has opened applications for summer job opportunities, and they have over 2500 open positions. Click here for more information.

6. Align Your Inner Self Youth Program (16-24), Now through September 2023

Black Alphabet started as an organization founded to encourage story telling and educate communities about the cultural and social contributions Black LGBTQ+ identified people have made upon the world. Now the organization has transformed and they are focused on creating and spreading awareness on issues that have an impact on the Black LGBT+ community.

Their new program, Aligning Your Inner Self, for youth ages 16-24 is to help those who are looking to align their inner voice or conscience through the use of art. The program started in March and they will have monthly sessions through September 2023.

Click here to register for a session!

DFSS Rental Assistance Program

The Rental Assistance Program (RAP) provides funding to Chicagoans who are at risk of becoming homeless. RAP helps Chicagoans who have housing right now, but who may become homeless soon because they lost income or had another eligible emergency which prevents them from paying rent. Learn more and apply at chicago.gov/fss/RAP.

Assistance may include: 

• Payment of future rent, or rent arrears to prevent eviction
• Security deposits in cases of fire, flood, foreclosure, domestic violence, or eviction

You are eligible if: 

• You live in the City of Chicago and are at risk of becoming homeless due to eviction, loss of income or other emergency
• You economically classify as a low-income household
• Your landlord completes the RAP requirements

Options to prove eligibility: 

• Eviction notice, proof of loss of income or proof of other qualifying emergency
• Paystub, benefits statement, or affidavit (explanation) of no income
• Driver’s License, State ID, CityKey, or other
• Lease or Landlord agreement forms

Kimball Station Area & Curb Mobility Study

Help the City of Chicago build better connections to the Kimball Station! Do you shop on Lawrence Ave? Take the bus or the Brown Line? Or live in Albany Park? You can win a $25 gift card for sharing your thoughts on how you get around and why. Take the survey here.

Hearing Aid Research Study

Patient-Centered Hearing Trial at Northwestern University are recruiting participants for their hearing aid research study!

As you may be aware, hearing loss is very common among American adults. Untreated hearing loss has been linked to many other health conditions including cognitive decline. To improve access to hearing healthcare, the FDA has approved over-the-counter hearing aids. Their study is a national trial to understand how individuals can best select and fit their own hearing aids, purchased at a highly discounted rate of $650. 

They are looking to recruit individuals between 50 and 79 years old who have not tried hearing aids before but are experiencing mild to moderate hearing difficulty. They have three sites up and running in the greater Chicago area on Northwestern’s Evanston campus, NMH downtown, and at a clinic in Palos Hills. For more information on how to join the study, call (877)-884-5242 or visit P-CHAT.soc.northwestern.edu.

Business Resources

1. Small Business Composting Program

North River Commission and Special Service Area #60 are excited to announce a composting pilot program in partnership with WasteNot Compost, Chicagoland’s largest compost collector and only zero-emissions service provider. 

This pilot program empowers businesses to divert food and other organic waste from landfills, in an effort to foster a thriving, sustainable community. WasteNot is proud to offer SSA #60 exclusive rates, engaged support, and special services to SSA #60. This includes education and marketing materials for businesses to make composting an easy addition to your operation and promote the initiative to the larger community. WasteNot offers an approach to composting that is centered on engagement, convenience, and customer satisfaction. SSA #60 is excited to even further the accessibility of this program by offering a generous rebate to all participating businesses within the SSA.

Interested businesses should complete this form for more information or to join! Please reach out to Tommy at tommy@wastenotcompost.com with any questions about the program

2. Business Grant Applications

• eBay Up & Running Grants provide eBay business sellers with grant packages of $10,000, including cash, a $500 eBay Refurbished technology stipend, eBay education, and coaching. Applications are open through June 9th at 5 p.m. To be eligible, applicants must be a U.S.-based business that is a new or existing eBay seller.

For more business grant information please, visit North River Commission’s website.

Employment Opportunities

1. Chicago Tool Library is Hiring!

The Chicago Tool Library is a 501(c)3 nonprofit whose mission is to provide equitable access to tools, equipment, and information to allow all Chicagoans to learn, share, and create. Located in the West Garfield Park neighborhood of Chicago, our lending library houses thousands of items that range from basic hand tools and table saws to ice cream makers and camping equipment. We are a forward-thinking organization hoping to help our city reshape its relationship to ownership, consumption, and creativity.

They are seeking 1-2 part-time Tool Librarians with an anticipated start in June. Click here for the full job description and to apply.

2. The Friendship Center is now hiring!

The Friendship Center is hiring an Operations Manager of Programs. 

The Friendship Center supports the food-insecure populations of Chicago’s northwest side neighborhoods like Albany Park, Lincoln Square, North Park, Ravenswood, and West Ridge. They are a welcoming, fresh food, full-choice pantry also providing hot meals, home delivery, pet food distributions, and public benefits coordination and assistance. They serve over 4,500 neighbors facing hunger each month.

Objective of Job: The Operations Manager, Programs is responsible for all aspects of the food distribution programs like home delivery, hot meal service, and pet food pantry that complement the onsite pantry and allow The Friendship Center to provide hope and dignity in our community through access to food and other vital resources.

Click here to read the full job description and apply.

3. Virtual Veterans Hiring Initiative with CTA

RSVP for session 1

RSVP for session 2

4. UR Chicago Alliance Employment Opportunities

UR Chicago Alliance is a faith-based work development program that unites and mobilizes churches, community organizations, and businesses to provide access to living-wage opportunities and long-term support through a network of Christ-centered relationships. URCA’s focus is on:

• Job Readiness and Life Skills Training: We provide 8-week training using the Chalmers Center job preparedness curriculum. We provide program participants with access to technology and coaching in digital literacy, resume building, interviewing, networking, and code switching.
• Long-Term Mentorship: Each program participant is paired with a mentor from the local community for 18 months who provides support as they pursue living-wage work.
• Community Partnerships: Our robust network of community partners helps address issues related to poverty and unemployment including adult education classes, counseling, financial literacy, and others.
• Employment Partnerships: URCA maintains an active pipeline of employer partnerships, and we regularly update Leaders on job opportunities. Once placed, our program participants earn wages ranging from $15 to $46 per hour with benefits for full-time positions.

5. CTA’s Find a Job Fridays

MPox (MonkeyPox) Resources

The MPox virus is spread through close contact with body fluids, sores, shared bedding or clothing, or respiratory droplets (kissing, coughing, sneezing, etc.).

Vaccinations for MPV are currently available in Chicago for adults 18 and up. Because of the limited availability of vaccines, you must meet the eligibility requirements outlined by the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH).

COVID-19 Resources

1. 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!

2. Receive Your Updated COVID-19 Vaccine At Home!

3. Vaccinations

CPS Students: 

– Permanent sites
– Mobile Events
– School-Based Health Centers
–  Sign up for weekly COVID testing at CPS

33rd Ward Vaccination Events

1. Theodore Roosevelt High School

2. Swedish Hospital: Walk-In’s Welcome

* More information on City testing sites here!

Community Safety Updates

1. 17th District CAPS Meetings

The 17th District has resumed beat meetings in-person. 

Information about Beat Meetings here.

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