Kelly's Update

This “break” week has not really been very breaky, but it’s been really nice to be back in the district and to have a chance to try to catch up on things here at home before heading back to session for the sprint to the finish. We are scheduled to be in session every week between now and adjournment on May 31, with all but one Friday in May a scheduled session day.

I did get a little fun in last week when I got to meet with some remarkable young women who are participating in a boxing program at Loyola Park through a great organization called Box United. It’s one of several youth sport agencies that have gotten funding via a state grant to Laureus Sport for Good, which was originally founded by Nelson Mandela.

Kelly and Taylor being taught some boxing moves by the fighters at Box United!

Senate Bills See House Action

We will begin hearing testimony on Senate bills in committees next week. I’ve got six bills and a resolution to move, and am looking forward to hearings on the four bills that have been assigned to the Restorative Justice and Public Safety Committee that I serve as chair of.

The bills I’ve picked up from Senate sponsors include some of the ongoing work around sexual assault survivor treatment and implementation of the Community Emergency Services and Support Act (CESSA) which will ensure that a call to 911 for a mental health crisis will be responded to with appropriate mental health supports rather than a traditional law enforcement response. 

SB1602 reflects the work of Attorney General Kwame Raoul’s SASETA Working Group to update the Sexual Assault Survivor Emergency Treatment Act. We continue to work on final details, including establishing appropriate limits and guidance on what is referred to in the law as “transfer hospitals.” Cases of sexual assault require very specific procedures by highly trained medical professionals known as Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANEs) to ensure that survivors are given the care they need to address their trauma while also collecting and storing critical evidence for possible prosecution of an attacker. Not all hospitals have the capacity to maintain coverage for this 24/7/365, so the law contemplates allowing hospitals to enter into transfer agreements with facilities able to support survivors. Current law only requires that the Department of Public Health ensure that a hospital transfer agreement not be “unduly burdensome” on a survivor, but they’ve asked for clarity on that. Since last year, I have been working with a woman who presented at her local emergency room reporting that she’d been drugged and raped only to have the responding doctor first doubt that she had experienced an assault then tell her she had to go 70 miles to get a sexual assault exam without any offer of assistance with transportation. Over a week later, she went to a sexual assault service provider and learned that there was a treatment hospital 15 minutes away. She went to that facility and the SANE on site confirmed that her injuries were consistent with a sexual assault, but that too much time had passed for viable evidence collection. My primary reason for wanting to rewrite the SASETA law is focused on this part of the survivor experience while also ensuring that we are centering the needs of survivors in all facets of the law. We are working to find parameters that will ensure survivors are informed of their options and have their needs prioritized while recognizing the unique challenges faced by rural hospitals and care deserts in meeting the standards of care required and expect one more amendment to this bill before final passage.

SB2500 is yet another follow up bill resulting from ongoing discussions on implementation of the Community Emergency Services and Supports Act known as CESSA. As we have continued discussions between the state agencies responsible for implementing CESSA and various stakeholders including regional and local agencies, we have been making adjustments to allow for practical implementation of mental health first response protocols in areas with diverse needs and resources across the state.

I’ve also picked up a few bills that are new to me, and I’m excited to get up to speed on these as we get back to work:

SB108 will make permanent the very successful program in the Cook County Court system that allows judges the discretion to waive assessments or fees against criminal defendants. Recognizing that fees and fines against indigent defendants can represent an impossible to overcome barrier to completing a sentence and successful reentry allows judges to impose more realistic and achievable accountability measures, reducing recidivism.

SB175 was sponsored in the Senate by Sen. Laura Fine, a longtime champion for patients over insurers and will require plans in Illinois to cover the costs of testing for Klinefelter Syndrome, a hormonal condition that can impact development and fertility.

SB1173 Sponsored by Sen. Mike Simmons, the bill aims to remove barriers to accurate identity documents for unhoused people by prohibiting notaries from charging fees to notarize the Illinois Secretary of State Department of Drivers Services Homeless Status Certification Form.

SB1884 will give the Department of Central Management Services discretion to consider work experience as equivalent to a college degree when appropriate.

Finally, because it’s great when you can combine the serious work of honoring one of our state’s most significant agricultural industries with the joy of creating Illinois Bacon Day and sharing our love of what my kids have called “meat candy,” I am also sponsoring SJR24.

Session Schedule Change

In a regular session week, we traditionally convene at noon on Tuesday for very brief floor time before breaking for caucus meetings and committee hearings. This week, we will be convening at 3pm on Tuesday so that members can attend the funeral of a former colleague, Chuck Hartke. Representative Hartke and I didn’t serve together, but I knew him from my time on staff, and he remained a regular in the Capitol for many years. He was always very kind and was known for his willingness to help younger members. Once folks make it back to the Capitol, we will convene at 3 and still undertake committee work so that we can get bills teed up for floor action.

Even though I will be in Springfield almost exclusively for the foreseeable future, Team 14 will be here ready to help with any issues you might need assistance with. Call or email with specifics and we’ll do our best to solve your problem.

Need to Know Info

Our office is hiring a Constituent Advocate! Our current Constituent Advocate, Carlos, will be moving onto new endeavors come this summer and we are looking to hire his replacement.

The role is part-time with an hourly rate of $20/hour. For more information, please see the job description above.

Please direct resumes and any questions to State Representative Cassidy’s Chief of Staff, Taylor Ortiz (taylor@repcassidy.com). We will be scheduling interviews on a rolling basis, so submit your resumes ASAP!

Be sure to get your applications in for the 14th District Small Business Security Infrastructure Grant! Applications close next week-April 30th!

Click here to be taken to the grant application website! If you have any questions contact our office at info@repcassidy.com.

You can find out more information and view a recording of an informational webinar on the grant website: www.14sbsig.org.

Environmental protections matter to me. That’s why I am a proud sponsor of the Clean and Equitable Transportation Act! Illinois’ transit system needs major transformation. CETA is an investment in Illinois’ people. It will build better connectivity and deliver the transportation & mobility options you deserve. CETA will ⬇️:

🚌 Improve access to public transit and alternative mobility choices.

🚲 Invest in safe and accessible walking and biking infrastructure.

🤝 Unify the CTA, Metra, and Pace, saving as much as $250 million a year.

💸 Increase affordable transit options.

State Senator Mike Simmons' Office is hosting a Transportation Town Hall on Thursday, April 24th from 6 to 7:30 pm at the Broadway Armory (5917 N Broadway). At this event, you will be able to learn more about State proposals to address the transit fiscal cliff and share your experience riding the CTA, Metra, or Pace. Any questions can be directed to senatormikesimmons@gmail.com or 773-769-1717.

Our office plans to attend this event, but Representative Cassidy will not be able to as the House is in session, and she will be in Springfield.

We hope to see you there!

April is Financial Literacy Month. The Illinois Treasurer's Office wants to share with you the Illinois Financial Wellness Hub, an online resource for adults and teens. You can find help at the Hub with everything from affording a home, planning for retirement, understanding Social Security benefits, to building an emergency fund.  

There are resources for young adults to soon to be retired folks. In addition to an online library of over 120 financial topics, Illinoisans also have free access to Certified Personal Finance Coaches.  

You can create a secure and free account, complete a checkup, and receive personalized recommendations about how you can get a better handle on your own finances. If you know someone who might benefit, please share it with them.  

And, if you are looking for something fun for your own child, friend, or neighbor, Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs’s office provided librarians throughout the state with their own toolkits. Please check with your local library and see if April’s programs are of interest.  

Please feel free to reach out to their office with any questions. If you have questions specifically about the Financial Wellness Hub, please contact Maggie Owen with the Illinois State Treasurer’s office at mowen@illinoistreasurer.gov or (217) 720-0677. 

As the academic year draws to a close, Loyola will prepare to move out 5,000 students in residence halls and host commencement for excited graduates. Move out will take place Monday, April 28 - Monday, May 5, 2025 with commencement taking place Tuesday, May 6 - Saturday, May 10.

To learn more about how this period will impact you, click HERE!

Neighborhood Shoutout

Join Vivent Health & TPAN for an unforgettable evening that combines great food, community, and impact! Dining Out For Life is back in Chicago on Thursday, April 24, and by simply dining at one of their participating restaurants, you’ll be helping support Vivent Health + TPAN’s new HIV health center right here in Chicago.

When you enjoy a meal out with friends, family, or colleagues, a portion of your bill will be donated to help them continue providing critical HIV care and services in our community.

They’ve partnered with an amazing lineup of restaurants—businesses that stand with and support the LGBTQ+ community they proudly serve. And yes, the pop-up drag show and live music will return to several locations throughout the night, adding extra sparkle to an already meaningful evening!

Participating businesses in the 14th District include AMP Social, Beard & Belly, and Burke's Public House, but there are many other participating restaurants nearby! For a complete list, click HERE!

Let’s show up, be visible, and make a difference in the lives of people impacted by HIV—one meal at a time. This year, you can also support Dining Out For Life Chicago by purchasing a raffle ticket for a chance to win a two-night staycation at the iconic Intercontinental Chicago Magnificent Mile, complete with breakfast included! Purchase a ticket HERE!

Fundraisers & Surveys

The Leone Beach Park Advisory Council is looking to gather data on paddling usage on Lake Michigan! With Leone Beach being a designated paddle craft and non-motorized boat launch site, it is imperative that they have data to understand the launching point's usage.

To complete this survey, click HERE!

District Events

Wild Onion Market is hosting the Chicago premiere of General Manager Matt Wechsler's latest documentary at Living Water Church. The film is a modern-day take on Upton Sinclair's 1906 novel, revealing centuries of greed and exploitation in America's meat industry.

Doors will open at 6:30PM and the film begins at 7PM. The screening will be followed by a Q&A with Director Matt Wechsler and film subject Reginaldo Haslett-Marroquin.

April 22, 2025 from 6:30pm - 9:30pm

Living Water Community Church

6808 N Ashland Ave

Tickets are free, but have a suggested donation of $15.

To RSVP click here.

On Saturday, April 26th, parks across the city will be hosting Earth Day Cleanup events with numerous opportunities for you to get involved. The City of Chicago has been putting on events like this for 40 years and is hoping to make this year's the biggest one yet with events expanding to even more parks!

To learn how to find existing park cleanups, click HERE!

To see this information presented as a map, click HERE!

The Andersonville Chamber of Commerce and the Andersonville Sustainability Community Alliance are celebrating the 14th anniversary of the One Earth Film Festival through a screening of Food, Inc. 2 on Saturday, April 26th at 5706 N Clark. Doors open at 6 pm, and the movie begins at 6:30 pm. This powerful sequel exposes unchecked corporate consolidation and makes the case for a just, healthy food system. A brief community discussion will follow the film screening.

To RSVP for this event, click HERE!

Gerber/Hart Library will have their community play reading group read Smilin' Through, by Jane Cowl and Jane Murfin at 11 am on Saturday, April 26th. They’ll divvy up the roles, read aloud, and have a short discussion after! This event will be held in Gerber/Hart’s Community Room (6500 N Clark Street, 2nd floor). Elevator located at end of hallway (past Howard Brown front desk). A few copies of the script will be available for use but please bring a phone, laptop, or other device to read the online PDF if you can!

For questions about this event, please contact info@gerberhart.org.

For information about the play and the event, click HERE!

The 24th District Police Council is hosting its monthly meeting on Sunday, April 27th at 3 pm at the Rogers Park Library (6907 N Clark St.). A Zoom option for this meeting is available by registering HERE. Public comments can be given by delivering them at the event or by emailing them to DC24@cityofchicago.org.

Join The Andersonville Chamber of Commerce for Andersonville’s second Valborg celebration on Wednesday, April 30 from 5-8pm at Chicago Waldorf School!

Valborg is a cherished Swedish tradition that welcomes spring and bids farewell to the long winter. At its heart, it is a comforting bonfire, where communities gather to burn away the worries of the past and start spring anew.

In honor of Earth Month, they are featuring eco-friendly organizations. Enjoy Saving Spring, a puppet show by Gamelan Naga Biru (6-7pm), followed by traditional songs from the Chicago Swedish Mixed Chorus (7pm). The evening concludes with a fire poetry performance by the Typewritualist Coelti (7:20PM).

To RSVP for this event, click HERE!

The Glenwood Avenue Arts Fest (GAAF) is a much-anticipated annual tradition in the Rogers Park neighborhood, showcasing the work of over 130 artists and more than two dozen music and dance performances, as well as live arts demonstrations, an activities area for kids, and open studios. Attendees can browse and buy artwork from over 130 local and visiting artists spanning all genres, from traditional woodworking and ceramics to digital drawing and avant-garde mixed media.

This free, weekend-long community event enables attendees to experience art, music, dance, and more while enjoying food from local eateries on the cobblestone streets of the Glenwood Avenue Arts District, at the intersection of Morse and Glenwood avenues, steps from the Morse CTA Red Line stop.

You can submit your application for the fest here.

Join Rogers Park Business Alliance for a fun-filled Día del Niño celebration with Colectivo Clark! As part of Camino Clark’s Cultural District Designation, this event honors our community’s Mexican heritage with hands-on activities for kids, including piñata-making, salsa recipe creation, a collective art piece, and more!

Don’t miss this family-friendly cultural celebration!

Únete a RPBA para una divertida celebración del Día del Niño con Colectivo Clark. Como parte de la Designación del Distrito Cultural de Camino Clark, este evento honra la herencia mexicana de nuestra comunidad con actividades interactivas para niños, incluyendo creación de piñatas, elaboración de recetas de salsa, una obra de arte colectiva y más.

¡No te pierdas esta celebración cultural para toda la familia! 

This event will be held at 7056 N Clark St from 4-7 pm on April 30th. For more information, click HERE!

Rogers Park Business Alliance is beginning its First Friday Music Series starting Friday, May 2nd, from 6 to 7 pm at various stages on Sheridan Rd. between Devon and Pratt. The evening will feature exciting live music on local business patios!

At 6 pm

Cafe Nova - Vivian Garcia

Loyola Plaza - Mossy Stones and a giant crossword activation

Great Wall - Maja Rios

At 7 pm

Cafe Nova - Nicholas Barron

Loyola Plaza - Mossy Stones and a giant crossword activation

The Edgewater Glen Association is hosting a Spring Plant Swap on Saturday, May 3rd from 10 am to 12 pm at 1430 W Norwood! Bring any extra plants you might have and swap them out for new ones in time for the growing season! In case of rain, they will meet the next day, Sunday, May 4th, at the same time and location.

To learn more about the Edgewater Glen Association and their other events, click HERE!

Rogers Park Business Alliance is hosting "Mercadito" on May 3rd from 10 am to 3 pm at 7056 N Clark St. Shop one-of-a-kind goods including jewelry, artwork, artisanal candy, pottery, baked goods, accessories, stationery, home items, and even cat toys — all created by local entrepreneurs and artists. Whether you’re gift-hunting or just love to browse, this is your chance to support small businesses and find something truly special.

To learn more about this event, click HERE!

The Andersonville Wine Walk will take place on Sunday, May 4th! Now in its 20th year, Wine Walk turns businesses throughout the district into wine tasting destinations! 

Check in location: 1554 W Hollywood

Check in between 1PM-4:30PM. If you do not check in by 4:30PM, the tickets will be released at the check in location on a first come, first served basis.

No Refunds or exchanges. This event is rain or shine.

Routes are subject to change.

To purchase tickets, click HERE!

The Glenwood Sunday Market is hosting its Spiral Into Spring: A Flourishing Soirée on Friday, May 9th from 7 to 9 pm at The Rhapsody Theater (1328 W Morse). This soirée benefits the Glenwood Sunday Market's food access program which doubles LINK customers' dollars spent at the market! The evening will feature live music, hors d’oeuvres, and drinks!

For more information about the event and sponsorship opportunities, click HERE!

The Chicago Mosaic School is hosting its annual Mosaic Fest on Saturday, June 1 from 11 am to 6 pm at 1127 W Granville! This event is a perfect way to experience all that The Chicago Mosaic School has to offer while connecting with your community. Try your hand at creating a variety of mosaic projects, listen to live music, and meet your neighbors, all while enjoying food and beverages.

To learn more about this event and to purchase tickets, click HERE!

As the community partner to the Chicago Park District's Osterman Beach Natural Area, Edgewater Environmental Coalition volunteers restore and maintain natural dune and open sand habitats. These spaces allow beach-goers to discover and appreciate the beauty of nature in its many forms.

Volunteer Workdays take place on Sundays and are led by trained Community Stewards. Activities differ by site and time of year, and can include tasks such as litter pickup, trail maintenance, invasive plant removal, native plant installation, as well as nature-based activities like birding and plant identification walks.

There are accessible places off paved pathways to sit; with water, bike racks, and restrooms right by the meeting place. The activities take place in mostly flat and sandy areas that may be difficult to traverse for people with mobility challenges.

Parking in the area is very limited to what you can find on nearby streets. Biking, walking, carpooling, or public transit is recommended.

Contact volunteer Community Stewards Renee and Jim at ostermanbeachnaturalarea@gmail.com with questions.

Follow along through their Facebook page.

Sign up for the Osterman Beach stewardship volunteer mailing list on this form.

Interested in helping with watering trees? You can sign up here

To learn more about this opportunity, click HERE!

Theatre

Curious Theatre Branch is proud to present the world premiere of The Infinity Play, written by Paul William Brennan and directed by Brennan and Maya Odim, April 25 – May 18, at Jarvis Square Theatre, 1439 W. Jarvis Ave.

In ten interconnecting scenes of different times, places and proportions, a pair of players take turns to clean up the mess the preceding players made, but end up making a bigger mess for the players after them. 

The performance schedule is Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 5 p.m. The running time is 90 minutes with no intermission. Tickets for The Infinity Play are on sale at CuriousTheatreBranch.com. Tickets are priced on a “pay what you can” scale, with a suggested price of $20. 

Rivendell Theatre (5775 N Ridge Ave) is presenting a new production called No Such Thing from March 22-April 27 on Thursdays & Fridays at 8 pm and on Saturdays at 4 pm & 8 pm!

From Rivendell's Website:

Once a sought-after screenwriter, Ren finds herself "a woman of a certain age" at a crossroads of social and professional invisibility. 

The newest play from the writer of Rivendell’s hit productions of The Walls and American Wee-Pie, No Such Thing examines what makes a life story and charts the unpredictable changes in a society that downsizes women out of their most productive years. 

To learn more and purchase tickets, click HERE.

Youth & Teen

Refugee Education & Adventure Challenge (REACH) is pleased to open up registration for their 2025 Summer Adventure Camp. Eligible youth are refugee and asylum-seeking youth (boys and girls) between the ages of 10 and 18, who primarily live in Chicago's north side neighborhoods (Rogers Park, West Ridge, Albany Park, Edgewater) or nearby suburbs. This year, they will offer four weeks of day camps, two overnight camping trips, and a multi-night extended sleepaway camp. Youths can register for one week of day camp or more. Registration will close once they reach capacity (30 youth slots per weekly session) or on June 13th. 

Summer Adventure Day Camp Sessions:  They will offer four weekly day camp sessions (Mon-Thurs, 10 am - 4 pm) during which REACH participants will engage in adventure sports and place-based education activities such as archery, climbing, kayaking, canoeing, nature hikes, fishing, forest restoration, and river clean-ups. [REACH will coordinate bus or van transportation based on enrollees' residential neighborhoods. In some cases, participants may need to get transport to the pick-up location.]

Session One: July 7 - July 10

Session Two: July 14 - July 17

Session Three: August 4 - August 7

Session Four: August 11 - August 14

Summer Adventure Overnight Camping Trips:  They will offer two overnight (1 night / 2-days) tent camping trips (one girls only, one boys only) and one extended sleep-away camp (3 nights/4 days) including team building activities (scavenger hunts, improv skits), nature education (macroinvertebrate investigations, outdoor cooking, habitat assessments), adventure sports (kayaking, climbing, hiking), and leadership development (problem solving, cooperative learning). [REACH will transport all participating youth via van or charter bus rentals.] 

Co-Ed Sleep-Away Camp: Sunday - Wednesday, July 27 - July 30, 2025

Girls' Only Camping Trip: Fri-Sat, July 11-12, 2025

Boys' Only Camping Trip: Fri-Sat: August 8-9, 2025

Family Picnic & Award Ceremony: This is an end-of-summer celebration for all participating youth and their family members. 

Family Picnic: Sunday, August 24, 12-3 PM

If you have eligible refugee or asylum-seeking youth who may want to participate, please fill out the preliminary registration form here - REACH Summer 2025 Pre-Registration Form, and they will schedule home visits with each family to complete the registration interview process.

Remember: all camps are FREE, but registration will be limited to 30 youth per weekly session. Registration closes on June 13, 2025 or when camps reach capacity. 

Specific questions about summer camp registration can be directed to Shana Wills at swills@reachinchicago.org or Ellie Hease at ehease@reachinchicago.org.

Are you looking to explore something new for your child in 2025? Karate has many benefits such as increased focus, balance, agility, coordination, flexibility, emotional regulation, standing up for yourself/others and conflict resolution are just a few of the mental and physical benefits of karate classes. 

The Karate Beginners Special includes two months of classes (up to 3x/week) *and* uniform for only $250. Monthly payment option available as well. Schedule a FREE TRIAL CLASS to get started. Admission is rolling, but space is limited.

Classes are always LGBTQIA+ affirming and neurodivergent-friendly. Culture of Safety is a queer owned business. As always, classes are body-positive, trans-affirming, trauma-aware, and neurodivergent-friendly!

You can sign up here.

Job Openings

Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias’ office is now accepting applications for its third-annual summer job program!

Approximately 150 positions are available for college, trade school, graduate school students, law students, or graduating high school students who are enrolled in college or trade school in the fall.

Available positions include working in Secretary of State offices in Chicago, surrounding suburbs, Springfield and downstate facility locations. Under the program, college and trade school students earn $17 per hour and specific contractual intern positions for graduate and law school students earn $25 per hour. Job offerings include working in one of the 25 departments in the Secretary of State’s office or at a DMV.

Interested applicants can apply at www.ilsos.gov/summerjobs and must submit a resume, application, and cover letter explaining their interest in working at the Secretary of State’s office. Please reach out to publicengagement@ilsos.gov with any questions.

If you are looking for new career opportunities, consider the MWRD. Visit their online employment center to apply and learn more about the job and the selection process.

Find contracting and employment opportunities at O’Hare and Midway airports at the Chicago Department of Aviation’s Airport Expo and Job Fair, free for attendees on Thursday, May 1 at the UIC Forum, 725 W. Roosevelt Road.

Business representatives will recruit candidates to fill cargo, concessions, construction, security and other positions at all experience levels — with some hiring on the spot! Small business owners will learn how to obtain city certification and enter the airport business.

Access the UIC Forum via CTA Blue Line (UIC-Halsted), #12 Roosevelt bus, or #8 Halsted bus.

Register: flychicago.com/airportexpo

The Department of Children and Family Services is hosting a job fair on Thursday, May 15th, from 10 am to 2 pm at The Smith Park Fieldhouse (2526 W Grand)! The event is free to attend and will feature numerous recruiters and hiring managers who are hiring for full-time, part-time, and internship positions. Opportunities to take professional headshots are also available. This is a great opportunity to network with other job seekers!

To register for this event, click HERE! 

Sincerely,

Kelly Cassidy

State Representative, 14th District



Office of State Representative Kelly Cassidy

1507 W. Morse Ave

Chicago IL 60626