It’s November and we want to make sure that as you start thinking about buying gifts for your loved ones, keep in mind that there are endless possibilities right here in our ward. We will be offering a complete 33rd Ward holiday gift guide to support our neighborhood businesses and also ensure you get the most special and useful gifts to those you care about. We would love to include community voices as we update this guide. Please consider filling out this form if you are a small business owner in the 33rd Ward or if you’d like to recommend your favorite small business or products. 

Today we start with highlighting Green Spaces Plant Shop! What a better gift that some life affirming green beauty to make our cold winter happier!

Hanan can help you chose the perfect plants, pots, soil and also offers repotting. She can also give advice on how to properly care for any plant and make sure you get the best customers experience. Gifting plants is gifting a little bit of life and Hanan is ready to bring some green joy to your loved ones this holiday season.

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 “Form” on the Neighborhood Services page, and apply here! 

Leaf Collection Update

Leaf season is HERE! And we are right in the middle of it. Thanks to all the residents helping to keep our city clean who pack up all the leaves they can in those paper yard waste bags and put in the 311 requests to have them picked up. Those go to our ward superintendent, Eric Ramos, who after completing priority 311 requests for the week sets a route to pick up as many as he can. Often on those routes he picks up many that there are no 311 requests out for so be sure to put one in through the 311 app or by dialing 311 so that they can be composted. This past Wednesday he took 3 truckloads just like in the photo above!

Leaf debris can clog up storm drains so it helps when we keep them cleared up. Please use the proper yard waste bags opposed to plastic so they do not contaminate the compost dumpsters back at the city yard. Together we can work towards having a cleaner and tidier community while reducing pollution, conserving landfill space (yard waste current accounts for 15-20% of landfills), and creating healthy soil.

Unfortunately, the city’s sweeper trucks are not designed to handle the large volume of leaves that fall this time of year and can often cause them to stop working. It’s important for residents to do their best to NOT blow or rake leaves into the street because this will clog storm drains and damage street sweeper trucks. Proper collection and disposal of yard waste during this time helps to keep our city functioning.

“I like getting the yard waste because it’s one of the simpler requests I get and I really care about doing things like this that I know will lead to us having cleaner and more green cities. We need to do more of this.”- 33rd Ward Superintendent Eric Ramos

Street Resurfacing on Belmont from Kimball to Western, Starting November 8th 

An upcoming resurfacing project on West Belmont Ave from North Kimball Ave to North Western Ave is projected to begin soon. This work is part of the Chicago Department of Transportation’s Arterial Street Resurfacing – North Area Project, in the 33rd Ward. Construction is tentatively scheduled to begin on November 8th. 

The work this year will include ADA sidewalk improvements, curb and gutter removal and replacement. The project will be suspended over the winter months and then will resume in spring of 2023 with pavement patching, milling and paving the existing asphalt pavement, concrete medians, concrete bus pads, dedicated bike lanes 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 on this corridor for this year is scheduled to be completed December 15, 2022.

Bateman BOOsterfest & Halloween on the Green

Last week, our office was invited to attend the Bateman BOOsterfest & Halloween on the Green. We had a great time painting pumpkins and playing games with the students of Bateman & Cleveland elementary schools. We greatly appreciate the invitations and look forward to their upcoming events!

Chicago Board of Election Commissioners Seeking Early Voting Poll Workers

The Chicago Board of Election Commissioners is seeking staff for Early Voting Site 33. By having more staff at this location it will cut down the early voting wait time and ensure more people are able to have a smooth voting experience. The early voting location for our ward is the American Indian Center.

The pay is $17.00 per hour and overtime is paid at time and a half. All Early Voting Officials must be COVID vaccinated and live within city limits. Click here to apply today!

Texas Migrant Donation Collection Update

Recently, the Office of the Mayor has partnered with the Instituto del Progreso Latino to create an Amazon Wishlist to facilitate and expedite the donations of new items. This means moving forward donations will only be accepted virtually through that wishlist, and our office will no longer be accepting physical donations. You can access the Amazon Wishlist here.

If you have further questions about this change, please email our office at info@33rdward.org

Community Healing Village, November 5th

Join Roosevelt High School’s Student Voice who will be hosting a Healing Village for the community on Saturday, November 5th from 10 am-3 pm at Roosevelt High School. This event is open to ALL community members. 

The purpose of this event is to build community among students, parents, and community members and to highlight the restorative justice initiatives used by Roosevelt to address trauma through a healing centered discipline approach. This event will focus on healing through workshops, talking circles, and reflection. 

Food and beverages will be provided and no RSVP is required.

Rivera Family Meal Train Donations

Earlier this week the Rivera family hosted a candlelight vigil for their loved one who lost their life due to devastating acts of violence .They are seeking support from their community through a family meal train. Please consider donating if you are able. You can find the information here.

Community Wealth Building Initiative

As a part of the Chicago Recovery Plan, the Department of Planning and Development (DPD) has partnered with The Mayor’s Office of Equity and Racial Justice (OERJ), to design the Community Wealth Ecosystem Building (Community WEB) Program. The Community WEB program will allow the city to invest in the organizations that start, sustain, and scale CWB models.

The Community WEB program will fund an interconnected network of advisors to provide high-quality, specialized, and culturally-relevant technical services for free to eligible non-profit and for-profit start-ups and operating businesses, such as worker cooperatives, limited-equity housing cooperatives, community land trusts, and community investment vehicles.

We are pleased to announce that the deadline for submission of applications for the CWEB RFP which was November 1st has been extended through November 15th. Click here for more information.

Neighborhood Events

1. Christ Lutheran Church Blood Drive, November 5th

2. Free Zumba for All, November 5th & 19th

3. Community Night w/ NAMI Chicago, November 9th

4. ¡Ni un paso atrás! A Labor Trivia Night, November 10th

5. Educate.Radiate.Elevate’s Trivia Night, November 10th

6. Free Flu & Covid Vaccine Event, November 19th

Youth Opportunities

1. CPS Families Child Tax Credit

Chicago Public Schools families may be eligible for up to $3,600 per child through the expanded federal Child Tax Credit program.

To find out if you’re eligible, and to apply for this credit, visit GetCTC.org/chicagops, a simplified tax filing tool that takes just a few minutes to complete and does not require any tax documents. Some families may also be eligible for an additional $1,400 stimulus payment. Families have until mid-November to claim this money. More information can be found on this flier.

2. Little Explorers, Now – November 21st

The Kedzie Center is hosting another cycle of their parent-child play group called Little Explorers/Pequenos Exploradores for parents and young children (0-5) in our community. The program is bilingual and offered at no cost to community residents. Call them at (773)-754-0577 to reserve your spot. Masks and proof of vaccination required for adults.   

3. Skating, Hockey and Figure Skating Workshops, Sundays from Now – December 18th

Chicago Youth Foundation is a proud women-led initiative that brings the joy of ice sports to Chicago youth to improve their social and academic well-being and empowering them to find success through sportsmanship and teamwork. Below are the 3 FREE classes children can choose from.

Learn to Skate Workshop (for children that do not know how to skate)

• Students will learn the proper skating techniques needed to participate in our hockey or figure skating programs.
• Ice skates will be provided; Students must bring their own helmet, knee pads, elbow pads, and warm gloves
• Students should wear layers; including long sleeve shirt, light jacket, sweatshirt, with leggings, sweatpants, or jeans.

Hockey on your Block (for children that already know how to skate and would like to learn how to play hockey)

• Students will learn the proper techniques of advanced skating, stickhandling, passing, shooting, and playmaking.
• Hockey skates will be provided
• Students must bring their own hockey equipment and stick

Figure Skating on Your Block (for children that already know how to skate and would like to learn figure skating)

• Provides a safe and fun environment with group skating instruction that follows the framework of United States Figure Skating (USFS) to serve the needs of both recreational and competitive skaters.
• Figure skates can be provided 
• Helmets are optional.

Class size is limited to only the first 40 students who register online. If your children would like to participate in our 2022 fall workshops click this link.

Conversations with a Commander, November 7th

The Chicago Police Department is launching Conversations with a Commander. These conversations will take place monthly across Chicago and will serve as an opportunity to bring community members and district commanders together to:

• Have open and honest conversations
• Build relationships and strengthen a sense of community
• Promote public safety in Chicago’s neighborhoods

The 14th Police District will hold Conversations with a Commander on November 7th at 2 PM at 2150 N California Ave.

For more information contact the 14^th District Community Policing Office at

(312)-744-1261 or by email at caps.014district@chicagopolice.org

Know Your Rights, Remedies, and Resources Virtual Seminars, November 2022

Safer Foundation is partnering with the Women’s Justice Institute (WJI) to conduct a series of webinars to help people who are incarcerated and people with arrest and conviction records know their rights, know their remedies and also help connect them to legal and reentry resources. Below is a list of their upcoming webinars. Registration is required.

• Family Matters – Impact of Parental Incarceration: November 8th 12 PM – 1 PM
• Family Matters – Domestic Relations: November 8th 4 PM – 5 PM
• Housing and Driver’s Licenses: November 9th 4 PM – 5 PM
• Civic Engagement and Criminal Records Relief: November 9th 7 PM – 8 PM
• Employment, Occupational Licenses and Education: November 10th 4 PM – 5 PM
• Civic Engagement and Criminal Records Relief: November 10th 7 PM – 8 PM
• Housing and Driver’s Licenses: November 29th 4 PM – 5 PM

HANA Center ILHAF Support Drive

The Illinois Homeowner Assistance Fund (ILHAF) 2.0 Program opened earlier this month. ILHAF offers financial assistance for eligible Illinois homeowners to pay past-due housing payments.

The HANA Center is a Housing Stability Servicer provider and have partnered with the Illinois Housing Development Authority to help Illinois residents apply and receive housing counseling for the Illinois Housing Assistance Fund (ILHAF).

HANA Center will be holding in-person application drives at their Chicago office (4300 N. California Ave.) to help homeowners apply to HAF 2.0.

To attend the application drive, you must register in advance. Please register here for the application drive and learn more about the HAF 2.0 program.

Application Drive Schedule:

• November 14th 9:30 am – 12 pm & 1:30 – 4 pm
• November 20th 9:30 am – 12 pm & 1:30 – 4 pm

There will be future application drives in December and January.

If you have any questions, please call the HANA Center at (773)-583-5501, email housing@hanacenter.org, or text ‘mortgage’ to (773)-217-8497 (Korean/English) or (773)-217-9335 (Spanish/English).

Irving Park Community Food Pantry Coat Drive

The Irving Park Community Food Pantry (4256 N Ridgeway) is hosting its annual coat drive and seeks new and lightly used winter coats for clients in the 60641 and 60618 ZIP codes.  The drive runs through November 16. The Pantry can also accept hats, scarves, mittens, and other cold-weather gear. Drop off donations at: 

• 16th District, Jefferson Park Police Station, 5151 N Milwaukee Avenue
• 17th District, Albany Park Police Station, 4650 N. Pulaski Road
• Big Helpers, 4184 North Elston Avenue
• Disney II Magnet School, 3815 North Kedvale Avenue
• Disney II Magnet High School, 3900 North Lawndale Avenue
• Irish American Heritage Center, 4626 North Knox Avenue
• Irving Park YMCA, 4251 West Irving Park Road
• Jet’s Pizza, 3951 North Kimball Avenue
• J.T.’s Genuine Sandwich Shop, 3970 North Elston Avenue
• Old Irving Brewing Company, 4419 West Montrose Avenue
• Perkolator Coffee, 6032 West Irving Park Road
• Front Porch at 3822 North Tripp Avenue

If you have a large donation or want to run a drive, email info@irvingparkfoodpantry.org. 
For more details, visit www.irvingparkfoodpantry.org.

Queen of Angels School Open House, November 10th

Queen of Angels School is hosting an open house on November 10th from 6PM to 7PM. Scan the QR Code or sign up today. 

Roosevelt High School Open House, November 7th

Roosevelt High School is hosting an Open House for Prospective Students (8th graders) on Monday, Nov 7, from 3:30 – 6:00 pm. This open house will give attendees that opportunity to meet students and staff, as well as hear presentations with more information.

HANA Center Mental Health Crisis Reponses Learning Series, November 9th

The HANA Center would like to encourage you to sign up for our free panel discussion on new programs for mental health “urgent care” in our area. There are resources in our community to help people experiencing physical illness or crises, but it’s nearly impossible to find urgent care for mental health. Chicago has an opportunity to change this, but we have a lot of work to do.

On November 9th at 1pm join them for their second learning series on Chicago’s crisis response titled “The Right Support: A Place to Go” to explore what can be done to build a mental health crisis response that see the big  picture of healing and recovery for everybody.

ComEd Powering Lives Community Center Grand Opening, November 9th 

ComEd would like to invite the community to the grand opening of the Powering Lives Community Center at the ComEd Chicago North Headquarters.

The event will include a ribbon-cutting ceremony, tours and reception for community partners and local officials.

Please RSVP by November 2nd. 

CTA Virtual 2023 Public Budget Hearing, November 10th

CTA is hosting a virtual public budget hearing for 2023 on Thursday, November 10 at 6 PM. 

The proposed budget is available for review on CTA’s website in both pdf and plain text formats at transitchicago.com.

Physical copies are available at CTA Headquarters, on the first floor at the security desk and at select public libraries around the city.  

Anyone who registers for the event in advance will be called by CTA on the day of the event to learn how to join the public meeting online. those who do not register in advance can watch the hearing live on YouTube.

If you would like to speak at the public hearing you are encouraged to register prior to the meeting by completing a Request to Speak form online. Those who register to speak will have priority to speak at the virtual hearing.

Cano Health Center Ribbon Cutting, November 11th

Join Cano Health, Alderwoman Rossana Rodriguez, and the Albany Park Chamber of Commerce to celebrate the grand opening celebration for their new facility at the former Andy’s Fruit Ranch. Stop by to meet their team and stick around to take a few photos for their ribbon-cutting ceremony! Light refreshments will be provided.

Home Flooding & Energy Audit Workshop, November 16th

Join North River Commission in partnership with Elevate for a FREE workshop to learn about Elevate’s home flooding assessment and energy audit program. Learn about energy efficiency and flooding mitigation services available to you on Wednesday, November 16th at 6 PM via Zoom.  

To RSVP, contact Erika at erika@northrivercommission.org or text 872-257-8773.

Swedish Hospital Health & Wellness Events, Fall & Winter 

Below you can find a list of upcoming community events hosted by Swedish Hospital. All events are free and RSVP is required to attend. If there are any questions they ask that you give them a call at 773-878-6888 or visit their website at swedishcovenant.org/events. 

• Family Fridays: a two hour “open house style” event featuring fun activities, nutrition lessons, food samples, seasonal tips, and more for families. Stop by at anytime during the event time.
  • Friday, November 18: 4:30 – 6:30 PM
  • Friday, December 16: 4:30 – 6:30 PM
• “More Color” Nutrition Workshop: This one-hour interactive workshop is designed to help families with meal planning, cooking and healthy eating by focusing on tips and tricks to incorporate more color into every meal. Includes hands-on nutrition activities for parents and kids along with recipes, cooking demos, taste testing and more
  • Tuesday, November 15: 4:30 – 5:30 PM
  • Tuesday, December 20: 4:30 – 5:30 PM
• Bystander CPR / AED Training Session: Learn about the importance of “hands-only” CPR and how to respond in an emergency situation. At this session, you will learn how to properly perform chest compressions and how to use an AED (Automated External Defibrillator). Please note: Bystander CPR Training is different from a full-certification course.
  • Thursday, November 17: 6:30 – 7:30 PM
  • Thursday, December 15: 6:30 – 7:30 PM
• Monthly Cooking Series: This class features tips on meal planning, shopping on a budget, and incorporating healthy foods daily. It is part of their monthly cooking series, led by Annie Scott, Community Outreach Registered Dietitian.
  • Tuesday, November 1: 1:00 – 2:30 PM
  • Tuesday, November 8: 1:00 – 2:30 PM
  • Tuesday, November 15: 1:00 – 2:30 PM
  • Tuesday, December 6: 1:00 – 2:30 PM
  • Tuesday, December 13: 1:00 – 2:30 PM
  • Tuesday, December 20: 1:00 – 2:30 PM
• Teen Hangout: Designed especially for students in 8th through 12th grade, this monthly gathering creates a safe space for fun, games, snacks and more. Stop by to hang out with friends, work with a study group, participate in a community service project, play board games or join in various topical discussions. Light refreshments provided.
  • Wednesday, October 26: 4:30 – 6:00 PM
  • Wednesday, November 23: 4:30 – 6:00 PM
  • Wednesday, December 28: 4:30 – 6:00 PM

Community Commission for Public Safety & Accountability

The Community Commission for Public Safety & Accountability is a newly created independent civilian police oversight body in Chicago. 

They have applications open for a few Commission-appointed positions and they are hosting a public meeting on November 14th. You can view previous public meetings on their YouTube Channel. 

1. The Commission recently opened applications to serve on the Chicago Police Board, a 9-member council which makes disciplinary decisions for CPD officers accused of misconduct – applications due November 20th. There are 3 current vacancies.
2. They have applications open for their Noncitizens Advisory Council, which will be advisors to the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability to help make sure that the Commission’s work reflects and incorporates the public safety perspectives and experiences of non-citizen and new Chicagoans – applications due November 20th

Creative Industries Study on DCASE Music Programs & Services Seeking Consultants and Researchers

The City of Chicago acting through the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) seeks proposals from research and consulting firms with expertise in evaluating and creating reports on the cultural sector. Specifically, the city seeks to engage a firm to conduct research and evaluation of Chicago’s music industry and deliver a final report outlining key strategic recommendations that will guide cultural policy and its equitable support for the music sector in Chicago.

The Creative Industries Study on the DCASE Music Programs and Services will collect, analyze data, and create reports that will lay the foundation for long-term equitable program planning that elevates Chicago’s music industries.

DCASE is dedicated to enriching Chicago’s artistic vitality and cultural vibrancy, and offers more than 2,000 high-quality free exhibitions, concerts, theatrical and dance performances, films, lectures and discussions, family events and other programs each year at venues across the city. These events include the Chicago Blues Festival, Chicago Jazz Festival, Chicago SummerDance, Taste of Chicago, and more.

Proposals are due Friday, November 18, 2022. Click here to apply today!

Business Resources

1.Small Business Improvement Fund (SBIF) Lawrence/Pulaski TIF District NOW OPEN

Application period: November 1 – November 30

The Small Business Improvement Fund (SBIF) opens for applications starting Tuesday, November 1 at 9:00 am in the Lawrence/Pulaski TIF district. 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. Please note that residential projects are not eligible for the SBIF program, and residential developers should not apply. 

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. Apply at chicago.gov/sbif by Nov. 30, and register for an informational webinar at 1:00 pm on Wednesday, November 2 bit.ly/nov22sbif.

2. Business Grant Applications

• Founder’s First Grant — A total of $100,000 will be awarded to 30 businesses in Chicago in the form of cash and full-tuition scholarships to a stellar accelerator.
  • Grant money can be used as growth capital to hire or rehire premium wage jobs.
  • Cash infusion can be used to purchase, fix or enhance equipment necessary to help you manage growth challenges and scale for the future.
  • Founder identifies as one of the following: Latinx, Black, Asian, Women, LGBTQIA+, Military Veteran, or located in a Low to Moderate Income area.
  • TO QUALIFY: Must be located in the state of Illinois and have a current staff of 2-20 employees. Will have the ability to add 1-2+ net new premium wage jobs in the next 12 months. Your company must be a service-based business and at least one revenue stream serving other businesses. Must be a for-profit company with annual revenues between $100K and $3 million.
  • The application deadline is February 4, 2023.  Please email chicago.jobcreators@foundersfirstcdc.org with any questions about the Job Creators Quest Grant.
• Innovations for Healthy Living – Improving Minority Health and Eliminating Health Disparities funding opportunity
  • Granted by the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) as part of the America’s Seed Fund. This opportunity is for eligible SBIR/STTR entities to develop technologies and products that address health disparities while engaging and empowering individuals and communities.
• Upskilling Initiative
  • Provides professional development grants to businesses that serve employees aged fifty (50) and older who are currently earning up to $16 an hour. Training funds will be disbursed in $2,000 increments, pending a guaranteed commitment from the employer of a $1.50 or more per hour wage increase respectively after the training is complete.

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

Employment Opportunities

1. North River Commission is hiring

Join their team in making our communities healthier and safer! Position descriptions are on their employment page. Excellent benefits include health, dental and vision coverage and 401k retirement plan. Paid time off is provided for vacation, holidays, sick time, family leave, and medical leave. 

2. CPS Job Fair, November 16th

CPS is hosting a job fair for the positions listed above in the flyer. Registration is required for this event, and you can do so here. If you are unable to attend the job fair, you can apply for roles here. 

3. IDHS Job Fair, November 17th

IDHS is hosting a job fair on November 17th from 9 AM to 3PM for a large number of open positions.  

Don’t miss this chance to meet with their team and learn about exciting career opportunities. they offer great benefits and offer opportunities to take your career to the next level.  

If you are able to join, please RSVP. If you have any questions, please contact  Dhs.Recruitment@Illinois.gov.

4. The Department of Water Management is hiring for positions

DWM is seeking a Managing Engineer, an Assistant Commissioner, a Project Administrator, and a General Superintendent of Water Management. If interested, apply on their website.

5. CTA’s Find a Job Fridays

6. Chicago/ Cook County Workforce Partnership

F.H. Paschen (FHP) has partnered with the Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership to connect local residents with construction jobs for reconstructing the Webster Avenue Bridge, located over the North Branch of the Chicago River in Chicago, IL. The Partnership is working directly with FHP to fill construction trade positions.

If you are a skilled tradesperson interested in working on the project, please complete this form and The Partnership will begin your screening and hiring process.  If you need training in a construction-related occupation, you will be connected to the appropriate resources. 

MonkeyPox Resources

The monkeypox virus is spread through close contact with body fluids, sores, shared bedding or clothing, or respiratory droplets (kissing, coughing, sneezing, etc.). This week, there were 2 documented cases in Chicago. 

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. At-Home Vaccinations Incentive

Through August 30, any Chicagoan age 5 and up is now eligible to receive a $50 gift card for booster COVID vaccine doses (regardless of zip code) via the City’s At-Home vaccination program. 

Per CDC rules, this bonus is only being offered to individuals that have not received more than $100 in COVID vaccine incentives from the City. Incentives will be provided while supplies last.

Click here to schedule your appointment

4. 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