Early Voting for the March 18, 2014 Primary Election will be offered from Mon., March 3 through Sat., March 15.

Voters registered in the City of Chicago may use any Early Voting site in the city, regardless of where the voters live.

Voters don't need a reason or excuse to use Early Voting -- but voters do need to present government-issued photo identification.

Ballots cast in Early Voting are final. After casting ballots in Early Voting, voters may not return to amend, change or undo a ballot for any reason. It is a felony to vote more than once -- or to attempt to vote more than once -- in the same election.

All 51 locations will be open Monday through Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Three locations (the Board's offices at 69 W. Washington, Welles Park and Mount Greenwood Park) will be open Monday through Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and also will be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sundays.

The early voting location for the Third Ward is  the Chicago Bee Library (3647 S. State). Click here for more information and to view a complete list of early voting sites.  

When: February 19th, 6pm 

Black History Month Note: The Wabash YMCA 

An important center of community life, this Young Men's Christian Association facility also provided housing and job training for new arrivals from the South during the "Great Migration" of African-Americans in the first decades of the 20th century. A notable aspect of the building's diverse history was the founding here, in 1915, of the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History, one of the first groups devoted to African-American studies. The building was expanded to the south in 1945. It closed as a YMCA in the late 1970's. It is one of nine structures in the Black Metropolis-Bronzeville Historic District.

The Renaissance Collaborative began as a way to keep the Bronzeville YMCA - Historic Wabash Y from foreclosing.  Patricia Abrams, together with the help of Quinn Chapel AME, St. Thomas Episcopal Church, St. Elizabeth Roman Catholic Church, and the Apostolic Faith Church, founded TRC in 1992. They believed the only way to make a difference in someone's life is to provide them with the resources they need to construct a better life for themselves. It is also the place where the observation of Black History month began and is where TRC host a friend-raising breakfast annually in memory/celebration of that history.
 

Today, The Renaissance Collaborative not only partners with the YMCA located  within the Historic Wabash Y building, but TRC also runs numerous other programs including Renaissance Apartments & Fitness for Life Center that are aimed at giving people the chance to make a difference in their lives.

The building at 3763 S. Wabash was landmarked on September 9, 1998.   

Google Digital Civics: Using Technology to Transform Chicago's Communities

To celebrate Black History Month, the Chicago Urban League, the Woods Fund Chicago, and 100 Black Men have partnered with Google Digital Civics to sponsor this event that will feature a panel discussion and reception. The panel moderator is Robert Blackwell Jr. from the Electronic Knowledge Interchange and the topics discussed will include technology's role in: government, education, economics, and community development. To view complete event details, click here. Please RSVP by clicking here.

Where: Google Chicago (20 W. Kinzie)

When: February 20th, 4-6pm

Library of Love

The Washington Park Arts Incubator presents the opening reception for resident artist Krista Franklin titled "Library of Love."  The exhibit is "a visual love letter to Chicago that consists of a collection of books, artwork, and objects wherein the community is invited to read, write, and contemplate the power of love in its many manifestations."

Where: Washington Park Arts Incubator

When: February 21, 6-9pm

Know Your Credit Score & Prevent Personal & Business Identity Theft Seminar

Don't credit and fraud stop you from getting a loan, job or a small business loan.....or a grant! Learn how to protect your personal and business identity from identity theft and what to do if you become a victim if you use your debit/credit card at retails stores or your business debit/credit card with vendors.  This event is sponsored by The Monroe Foundation. Register today on Eventbrite!  For more information, call Otis Monroe at (773) 315-9720.

Where: Marquette Bank (6316 S. Western)

When: February 22nd, 10am-12pm

HBCU College Summit

The Rainbow PUSH Coalition is sponsoring this Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Summit. All HBCU alums are encouraged to wear college gear and bring college flags and brochures for distribution. A student meet and greet will occur during the event. For more information, please contact Rainbow Push at (773) 256-2761 or visit www.pushexcel.org or www.rainbowpush.org.  

Where: Rainbow PUSH (930 E. 50th St.)  

When: February 22nd, 10am  (Alumni Breakfast at 8am)