Earlier this week at the first meeting of the new City Council, I was elected as the the new Chair of the city’s Health and Human Relations Committee. This committee is particularly close to my heart because all the work I’ve been doing alongside community to have robust mental health and community care structures to serve everyone. I’m looking forward to using this powerful platform to hear and pass critical legislation on issues such as mental healthcare, bodily autonomy and gender affirming care, public bathrooms, and truly building a city that is a sanctuary for all. 

I will also be serving on a number of important committees including Budget, Finance, Education and Child Development, Environmental Protection and Energy, Housing and Real Estate, and Immigrant and Refugee Rights. 

I was deeply disappointed to see that three members of the city council blocked us from voting on the $51 million in funding to support the asylum seekers. The City Council will be meeting again on May 31st to pass the funding bill. We need to be thinking about this effort as part of rebuilding the public resources that have been disinvested for far too long. 

The city’s efforts can complement the vibrant community mutual aid effort that we’ve been building and stewarding in this ward. There are still plenty of ways to get involved in these efforts if you would like to. You’re welcome to contact our office info@33rdward.org or by calling 773-840-7880. 

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!

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 members of the 33rd Ward 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

Street Resurfacing is tentatively scheduled to begin on June 5th, weather permitting. This 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.  All work is scheduled to be completed by August 31st.

33rd Ward Zoning Update

Our office expects that a zoning change application will soon be filed with the City Council’s Committee on Zoning for the property generally located at 3004-3006 W Belmont. The applicant proposes to rehabilitate the existing two-story building and add an additional floor. CDZD partner Avondale Neighborhood Association has reviewed the proposal and provided feedback to the applicant. Community members can review the proposal here and submit feedback by visiting https://33rdward.org/zoning-proposals/.

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. Rooting for Albany Park Youth Festival, May 26th

2. Asylum 101 Training, Every Wednesday in May

3. Literacy Chicago’s Annual Gala “The Magic of Literacy”, June 1st

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

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

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

7. North River Commission Environment Meeting, June 6th

8. HANA Center Youth Open House, June 8th

9. 312 River Run, June 12th

10. 17th District Council Meeting, June 15th

11. Flavors of Albany Park, June 21st

12. 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. 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.

3. 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!

4. Roosevelt High School Freshman Registration Days

Click here to make your appointment today.

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

Autism & ABA Therapy Parent Workshop, May 31st

Rise Up 4 Autism, invites you to join them for a FREE Autism & ABA Therapy Parent Workshop on Wednesday, May 31 at their new Albany Park location, 4901 N Kedzie Ave. The workshops will take place at from 12:30-1:30 pm or 5:30 pm- 6:30 pm. Click here to learn more!

Workshop discussion topics include:

• Early signs of Autism
• What is ABA Therapy
• Available Services for your child

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

• The Ignite Fund supports the creation and presentation of experimental, innovative, public-facing, and accessible visual arts-based projects by Chicago-area artists and artist-led collectives. The Ignite Fund provides two types of grants: project grants ($3,000 and $6,000) and research & development grants ($1,500). Individual artists and artist-led collectives (up to 6 people) are eligible to apply for Ignite Fund grants.
  • Application closes TODAY at 11:59pm.
  • Find more information and APPLY HERE!

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. 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