Our school budgets are in danger and 33rd Ward parents, teachers, and community members are fighting back, and you can too!  The City is slashing the CPS budget for teacher and staff pay by about $60 million. According to WBEZ, it is “one of the biggest budget cuts in funds for core instruction since CPS started tying school budgets tightly to enrollment about nine years ago.”The Numbers 💸 These cuts are going to devastate about 185 Chicago Public Schools, each of which are losing about $200,000 used to pay for core instruction.📚 No classes in CPS are below the state recommended 16-to-1 teacher ratio for primary grades orContinue

This week I spent hours talking to CPS principals, teachers, parents, and community members about the budget cuts our school communities will be facing.  These cuts will hurt many of our community schools-some are losing fundamental resources like SPED teachers, SECAs, art teachers, support workers, and more.  The proposed budget also does not account for raises for teachers and staff, and CPS is still decreasing funding for schools with declining enrollment.  These budget cuts are very harmful, especially after a pandemic that has left everyone emotionally drained, exhausted, and in need of support. 🚨 In response to these cuts, I amContinue

Kedzie Ave is FINALLY being resurfaced and paved from Foster all the way to Elston, which is nearly all of the 33rd Ward! With all of the great input from our community and through several rounds of Participatory Budgeting, Kedzie will be getting some really exciting safety upgrades: bike lanes, a red stamped crosswalk, and curb extensions and bump outs.  In This Week's Newsletter Quick Links  Request services33rd Ward CalendarChiStreetWork construction portalSenior ServicesReview Zoning ProposalsResources for Renters *Want more information on community opportunities and job postings? Check out our Community Bulletin! Neighborhood Events  1. Easter Egg Hunt at Drake Gardens: TOMORROW AprilContinue

Spring cleaning in the ward continues! Do you have electronics, documents, and prescriptions that you were going to throw away? Well, tomorrow you can recycle them instead!  Check out the Facebook event for more information. This event will provide: On-site document shredding Electronics recycling Prescription drug take-backPlease make sure you remove paper clips, binder clips, and large staples from documents you want to shred before bringing them to the event. This will be a drive-through event.  In This Week's Newsletter Quick Links  Request services33rd Ward CalendarChiStreetWork construction portalSenior ServicesReview Zoning ProposalsResources for Renters Good Friday Peace Walk: Friday, April 15th Housing Support TUESDAY, APRILContinue

It's time for spring cleaning, and we wanted to give you a heads up that street sweeping begins TODAY, April 1st!  Stay up-to-date by checking out the interactive map on our website, as well as a pdf of the map and a full schedule.  You can pitch in too! Join Horner Park Neighbors on Sunday, April 3rd at 10am for a Community Clean-Up day. Refreshments and basic cleaning supplies will be provided.  Join Neighborhood Clean & Greens with the 33rd Ward Office Assist us in keeping our neighborhood clean and our natural areas thriving! FILL OUT THE FORM TO JOIN!Details: Our office will provide grabbers, gloves, and garbage bags.Location: Specific locations will be sentContinue

This week, we invite you to support our amazing Roosevelt High School students in raising money for the Chicago Public Schools Dream Fund Scholarship for undocumented students!  How can you support? By buying delicious coffee cakes from the student's culinary program at Roosevelt High School! The cake: It is a sour cream coffee cake recipe containing nuts. It comes in a 9" round pan and weighs 22 oz. You can freeze the coffee cake until the day before you want to eat it OR eat it immediately (as the 33rd Ward office did)!  Price: $12.00. To order a cake, you donate to their fundraiser on Facebook! Pick-Up: RooseveltContinue

We have an opportunity to pull together as a community and support an Albany Park family.  MISSING PERSON ALERT Family members of our neighbor Hector Manuel Franco Tello have informed the 33rd Ward Office that he is missing. His keys, wallet, and belongings were found in his car by North Park University dormitories last week. We kindly ask that you keep a look out for Hector (see the informative flyers below).  *A search was conducted on March 14th. We are asking for any local camera footage from last week. If you have any information, please call 773-844-5721.  *We are in the process of creatingContinue

This week was International Women's Day, and the 33rd Ward Aldermanic Office wants to thank the women dedicated to providing City services, making infrastructure improvements possible, overseeing our democratic decision-making processes, planning and executing community events, and devoting their hearts and minds to serving the residents of the 33rd Ward. Pictured: Gabriela M, Lilia E, Vicko A, Ald. Rossana Rodriguez, Veronica T-M, Leanna M (Not pictured, our Intern Rosalyn M) The History of International Women's Day: Gender and Labor Justice At the beginning of the 1900’s women were marching in New York to demand shorter hours, better pay and voting rights.Continue