Dear 33rd Ward Community,  Yesterday marked the beginning of Black History Month. The recognition of Black and African American people's contributions to United States and world history in the month of February began nearly 100 years ago. Carter Woodson and the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH) started "Negro History Week" in 1926, to recognize the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass during the secondweek of February. The celebration of these two leaders and their contributions to the history of black liberation struggles in the United States had been honored by the Black community sinceContinue

Dear 33rd Ward Community,  It is very important to me that my office has always been a place where we bring community into the decision-making process every step of the way. This is why projects like Participatory Budgeting (PB) form such a large part of the work that we do alongside our neighbors. Over the years, our Participatory Budgeting programming has been a way to bring youth into the civic process of voting. Each year this project brings together thousands of ward residents to decide how $1 million dollars for local infrastructure should be spent. Our ballot for 2024 PBContinue

Dear 33rd Ward Community, It’s time to submit your vote for our 2024 Participatory Budgeting ballot! Voting is open to all residents of the Ward ages 13 and up, and/or to parents who have a child who attends school in the ward. 33rd Ward community members are all encouraged to take part in PB regardless of their citizenship status, race, gender, sexuality, language, etc. This week our office had a surprise visit from students of Roosevelt High School as they hosted a March to the Polls for their class to come learn about Participatory Budgeting and to fill out theirContinue

Dear 33rd Ward Community,  I am so excited to wish you all a Happy New Year and to announce that our 2024 Participatory Budgeting committee has the ballot of this year ready, and voting will begin on Tuesday, January 16. Voting will be open for one month, until February 16. Voting is open to all residents of the Ward ages 13 and up, and/or to parents who have a child who attends school in the ward. 33rd Ward community members are all encouraged to take part in PB regardless of their citizenship status, race, gender, sexuality, language, etc. You areContinue

Dear 33rd Ward Community,  As we approach the end of the year, I wanted to take this time to thank everyone that has partnered with our office, reached out to our office for assistance, shared our work and events with community, or cheered us on from the sidelines. You all have done so much this year to support my office’s project of keeping the 33rd ward a culturally rich and welcoming community. I look forward to continuing this work together in the new year.  In this year alone we have managed to accomplish so many great things together it wouldContinue

Dear 33rd Ward Community,  Two years ago my office began working alongside two of the most respected affordable housing developers in the city – Full Circle Communities and Visionary Ventures – as well as the Department of Planning and Development and the Department of Housing to develop a 100% affordable housing proposal that is responsive to the increasing housing pressures that are facing Chicago’s Native community, Irving Park and the 33rd Ward. Full Circle Communities initially planned to submit a Type One zoning change application and went through our 33rd ward Community Driven Zoning Process, which received 79% support fromContinue

Dear 33rd Ward Community,  Please reach out to our office for any assistance. We are here to help.- Rossana, 33rd Ward Alderwoman Our office will be closed in observance of the holiday season for the following dates: at noon on Friday, December 15; Friday, December 22 - Tuesday, January 2. We will resume regular office hours on Wednesday, January 3. In the meantime all city service requests can be referred directly to the Chicago 311 hotline or we will be happy to assist you on our return.  Holiday trash and recycling pickup: Scheduled trash cart service will not be interruptedContinue

Dear 33rd Ward Community,  I want to take time this week to highlight the incredible efforts of our local mutual aid organization, the Community Care Collective 33 (CCC33). This group of 33rd ward residents came together nearly a year ago to volunteer their time and organize resources to fill gaps in the city’s plan to care for and welcome migrants and refugees, our new neighbors, to Chicago. When our communities first began welcoming large numbers of newly arrived immigrants, these neighbors had the instinct to lead with love, compassion, and care, and their efforts have made a huge impact onContinue