Activities for Families and Kids
Moms in Masks
Congressman Quigley at WNA on Monday
The Blue Angels Fly Over Tomorrow
Moms in Masks

The Chicago Tribune reported on IMPACT , a group of doctors, mostly moms, telling the public what needs to be done to stop the spread of COVID-19.

These moms agree: to stop the spread of COVID-19, moms, kids and dads need to be wearing face coverings when they are outside.

Dr. Shikha Jain (pictured her with her children) says: " W earing face masks in public must become the new normal, just as we are wearing seat belts and putting our children in car seats.

"As moms, our job is to protect our families and children. By putting a mask on you and your children, you safeguard yourself, your kids, your parents, friends and thousands of others who you may never know you had an impact on. There are still so many questions about this virus. The scary part is that you could have had it but never known it and you can be a carrier. The ripple effect of one person with COVID-19 without knowing it is huge. You don't know who you have been exposed to. By wearing a mask, you will get comfort from knowing that you were not the one spreading the disease."

Dr. Jain stresses the importance of following common sense guidelines:

"Wearing a face covering when outdoors is the best way to save lives and get back to our regular routines. It's worked in so many countries. The benefits far outweigh the inconvenience."

"Putting on masks is now part of our daily routine," she added. My children and I go outside and play with them on. My little one says "mask" and reaches for it before we go outside."

Today, IMPACT issued a statement calling on all Chicagoans to wear face coverings. Please read it - and send us your photos of you and your family wearing face coverings. And post them with the hashtag #43wearsmasks!

(photo credit: Chicago Tribune)
New Cases in Children Causing Concern

The New York Times reports disturbing news that 73 children in New York have become infected with a new inflammatory syndrome similar to toxic shock. Three children have died. All tested positive for COVID-19, but did not display the respiratory symptoms of the disease. The illness appears to be similar to Kawasaki syndrome. In a news conference , Governor Cuomo asked parents to be "vigilant in looking for symptoms such as prolonged fever, severe abdominal pain, change in skin color, racing heart and chest pain."

According to Governor Pritzker , Illinois has seen some of these cases, “It hasn’t been yet categorized in Illinois, but we just put together a group within our Department of Public Health to track these cases and of course to bring in folks that could help us answer the question, how do we protect children from this, what is causing this particular strain, is it really coronavirus?” 

We will keep you updated.
Face 2 Face
Virtual Support for CPS Parents

It's really tough on parents to be full-time educators as well working their jobs and handling other family responsibilities. Family and Community Engagement in Education (F.A.C.E.) has launched a series of virtual workshops to help families navigate the new normal. Offerings will be curated by experts and will address multiple relevant issues, including: social- emotional support, parental stress, academics, arts, mediation, and technology support. Direct access to experts will be available to participants.

Please visit Face 2 Face for their virtual meeting schedule and more information.
A New Principal for
 Lincoln Park High

The Lincoln Park High School (LPHS) Local School Council (LSC) is pleased to announce Dr. Eric Aron Steinmiller has been hired as the new principal of Lincoln Park High beginning May 4. the LSC is grateful for the thoughtful input received from faculty, staff, and the community and look forward to an extraordinary future ahead.

Steinmiller has been an educator for 17 years, most recently serving as an Assistant Principal at Roosevelt High School. He has a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois at Chicago.

He worked in Texas and Louisiana before coming to Chicago, where he became an administrator and earned his doctorate from University of Illinois at Chicago. You can read Dr. Steinmiller's resume here .
Virtual Commencement
Stay Tuned for Exact Date

In order to celebrate the city’s high school seniors who will not have a traditional graduation this spring, Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot, in partnership with Citadel, will host Chicago’s first-ever, virtual citywide high school commencement celebration in mid-June.

Oprah Winfrey will give the commencement address. This event is intended to celebrate every high school senior in Chicago, including those from Chicago Public Schools, charter schools, parochial schools and all other private schools across the city.

Watch Mayor Lightfoot's TikTok teaser video. The exact date will be announced in a few weeks, stay tuned.
Donate or Volunteer
Join the 43rd Ward Phone Volunteers

Our 43rd Ward Volunteers are busy making calls to hundreds of seniors in our community, checking to make sure that they in our community can run errands, have ready access to food and are aware of the programs to help senior citizens during the pandemic - or just get a friendly phone call.

We have training sessions open this week, including tonight. Sign up at Calendly to join us! Sessions are available
  • TODAY, Tuesday, May 12th at 7:30 PM 
  • Wednesday, May 13th: 3 PM & 7:30 PM
  • Thursday, May 14th: 3 PM & 7:30 PM 

To help with our phone bank,  you must have a home computer  and a phone, as the calling information will be provided on a computer only.
Donate Masks Tomorrow
Tuesday, May 12
10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
43rd Ward Office
2523 N. Halsted

If you know how to sew, please donate homemade cloth masks to support Chicago's COVID-19 relief efforts at homeless shelters, community health clinics, and other places to prevent outbreaks among the City’s most vulnerable and high-risk residents.

You can donate masks at my office this Saturday. For details of the types of masks requested, click  here.

Important Requirements:
  • All masks must be laundered before being packaged.
  • All donations must be in a sealable, clear plastic bag indicating the quantity per bag.
Virtual Community Meetings
Wrightwood Neighbors Virtual Meeting
with Congressman Mike Quigley
TODAY, May 11
6:30 p.m.

Join the Wrightwood Neighbors Association (WNA) on Monday, May 11 at 6:30 p.m. for their May General Meeting via Zoom! Congressman Quigley and CAPS Crime Prevention will attend virtually. Please email WNA at [email protected] if you are interested in attending . They will send you a link to register. Please download Zoom prior to the meeting in order to attend.
Drag Up Our Census Numbers
An Interactive Census Forum hosted by State Senator Sara Feigenholtz, Alderman James Cappleman, and Alderman Michele Smith
Tomorrow, Tuesday, May 12th
12:30 p.m.

Please join me, Alderman James Cappleman, and our State Senator Sara Feigenholtz, in speaking with Governor Pritzker's Census Team at a virtual community meeting on how the 2020 Census can impact funding throughout our community, especially during this coronavirus pandemic. We will discuss how to complete the Census, as well as updates from your elected officials on the fight against COVID-19.

To register please fill out this   google form   and the Zoom information will be sent to you 24 hours prior to the event. 

P.S. Expect a special appearance from local Drag Queen CircuitMOM who is sure to spice up our presentation.
College Students Count in the U.S. Census

Students need to be counted in the census at their usual residence, meaning where they live and sleep most of the time. Colleges are working with the Census Bureau to provide information on students who live in dorms or college-owned Greek housing.

Students that live in off-campus housing, such as apartments should and need to respond to the census. You can do this online, by phone, or mail.

Visit 2020Census.gov to participate and for more information. Please share this with everyone you know. We all count!
Activities for Families and Kids
Virtual Field Trips
Stay Home, Hit Play

Expand your knowledge in the comfort and safety of your own home. Take a "Virtual Field Trip" to Chicago's favorite cultural institutions. These virtual trips capture the magic of the Shedd Aquarium, Field Museum, National Museum of Mexican Art, Museum of Science and Industry, DuSable Museum, Art Institute of Chicago, and Lincoln Park Zoo.

Visit the Hit Play Chicago website and take a virtual museum field trip today!
Lincoln Park Community Services
Coloring Book

Chicago Artist Sam Kirk designed the terrific mural on the side of the new home of the Lincoln Park Community Shelter. To continue to raise awareness of the homeless during this time, LPCS has turned the mural into a coloring book. Create your own mini-mural and download here.
The Gwendolyn Brooks Youth Poetry Awards Competition  
enter by May 30

The Gwendolyn Brooks Youth Poetry Awards are accepting submissions from all Illinois students now through May 30th. All K-12 students are invited to submit their original poetry at no cost. 

Gwendolyn Brooks was a Chicago poet. In 1950 she became the first Black writer to receive the Pulitzer Prize, and was Illinois Poet Laureate from 1968 until her death in 2000.

The competition a great opportunity to share with students learning remotely and we hope to see writing from students in our ward honored at the awards this year as we have in the past.

Visit  ILHumanities.org/poetry  for more info, resources, and submission details.

Let's Move for Kids
Virtual Activities
To benefit Lurie Children's Hospital
By Lincoln Common
Saturday, May 16 and Sunday, May 17

Lincoln Common is built on the former site of Lurie Children's Hospital. Honor its legacy and have fun participating in several virtual activities on May 16th and 17th:

  • Read and Sing!
  • Move For Kids Storytime;
  • Sing-along;
  • Family Fun Workout;
  • Adults Workouts and Stretching

Over the weekend, do your own walk from Lincoln Common to Lurie Children's. Join the Lincoln Common Legacy Team, and donate to support the hospital's COVID-19 Support Fund. Times and sign up here.
The Blue Angels
Fly Over Chicago Tomorrow

Watch and hear our Air Show favorites, the US Navy's Blue Angels fly over Chicago tomorrow to salute our frontline COVID-19 responders.

The route will begin on the South Side and will loop over the City and western suburbs, finishing with a flight down the lakefront.

The Blue Angels ask us to watch the flyover from the safety of our homes and to not travel to see the flyover.
Be safe and enjoy Spring, from inside,


#43WearsMasks

Coronavirus Resources   :

If you have any additional questions, please email:  [email protected]  or call 312-746-4835

The Doctor Is In: Ask Dr. Arwady.  Live-stream by Chicago Health Commissioner Allison Arwady, M.D., daily at 11:00 am on Twitter  and   Facebook Live .

Sign up to receive the latest updates on Coronavirus:  https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/VwvbSW5/coronavirus
 
State of Illinois
 
Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
43rd Ward Office Hours: M - F 9 AM - 5 PM 
  2523 N Halsted  |  773-348-9500 [email protected] www.ward43.org