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Well, last week was quite a month, wasn’t it? I’m actually afraid I’m going to overlook something because there were so many things happening at once. A regular session week brings plenty to share and last week was the first real week of work for the 104th General Assembly as we took the 2-week in district period to organize committees, complete office moves, and elect sub-caucus leadership. Bills are starting to trickle back from the Legislative Reference Bureau in advance of the bill introduction deadline on February 7th. We’ll start sharing bills I introduce as well as interesting bills carried by colleagues after the deadline passes. In the meantime, you can check out ilga.gov to see what folks are proposing and get information about committee hearings once that process starts.
But this was not a regular session week as it turns out. The Trump administration’s flurry of executive orders set off waves of confusion and panic across nearly every sector and community. While communities were still on high alert over the actions of ICE and other federal agencies targeting undocumented people, Monday also brought news of a freeze on a sweeping array of programs funded by federal dollars. The Pritzker Administration pushed back forcefully, while Attorney General Kwame Raoul joined 22 state attorneys general and the District of Columbia to file a challenge to the freeze, securing an injunction. At this time, funding for existing grants should not be frozen and grantees should be able to access payment portals, but there have been mixed reports on that. If your agency is still experiencing issues, please reach out and we’ll see what we can do to help. The National Network for Youth has put together a really helpful timeline that’s been regularly updated. The full list of executive orders can be found here: whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions
As if a funding freeze impacting the entire social service provider spectrum (and beyond) wasn’t enough, several new Executive Orders were issued on Tuesday and Wednesday. Among them were orders impacting transgender members of the military, LGBTQ+ youth in schools, and access to gender affirming care. Each one is written in a way to be as confusing and frightening as possible, making it difficult to truly understand the mechanisms that will be used to enforce the orders. It’s important to note that nothing has changed here in Illinois based on the EOs and our laws protecting care remain in place while we work to interpret the orders and contemplate the actions we can take to fight back against these attacks. I found these two statements from California Attorney General Bonta particularly encouraging. See the statement regarding gender-affirming care at this link and the statement regarding school curriculum in the graphic below:
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There are a lot of ways to fight back against these undemocratic actions and as I said last week, we need to grant each other the grace that we can’t all do everything. But there are folks taking the fight head on who I have been so encouraged to see. Just as Gov. Pritzker and Attorney General Raoul have been unapologetic in their criticism of these actions by the White House, there are folks both inside and outside of government using every tool available to stop what is stoppable and to slow the pace of what maybe can’t be stopped. In a conversation with a colleague about how to communicate with constituents and neighbors about this work, I found myself describing a classic car chase scene where the getaway driver throws nails out the window, drives erratically, creates barriers, whatever it takes to slow down the cars chasing them. Some of this is like that. The federal employees who responded to the likely false promise to take an early buyout with a “Bartleby the Scrivener” esque “I prefer not to” are similarly engaged in effective resistance. The lawyers, advocates, and activists across the country coming up with innovative litigation and organizing strategies are too.
The level of public outcry on the funding freeze led to the administration having to walk back their audacious declarations and regroup. While the administration will still conduct the funding review and make cuts, we know that the combined advocacy and litigation can continue to force the administration to limit the impact on our communities.
Wednesday morning when we convened for session, I wasn’t planning to make a statement on the floor. When members of the so-called Freedom Caucus got up to do their daily points of personal privilege where they spew ugliness in support of Trump’s attacks on immigrants, the LGBTQ+ community, poor people, or anyone that doesn’t fit their worldview, I decided I’d heard enough. More importantly, the people that those colleagues wanted to be confused and afraid had heard more than enough. I wanted our constituents to know that there were people willing to stand with them and fight back, that they weren’t alone. My comments were shared widely by my colleagues in the House Democratic Caucus, and I deeply appreciated members who rose during my comments to show their support. The trans community is literally watching their very right to exist be debated on the national stage, which is empowering Trump’s supporters to commit actual violence against members of our community.
After I spoke telling trans youth and their families that they weren’t alone, my colleague Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz rose on behalf of the House Asian-American Caucus to both recognize Lunar New Year and honor Fred Korematsu in HJR00005. Korematsu was arrested and tried for refusing to comply with the order that all people of Japanese ancestry submit to imprisonment in internment camps. He was the lead plaintiff in the American Civil Liberties Union’s case that went to the US Supreme Court and ultimately led to a formal apology in the form of the Civil Liberties Act of 1988. In addition to apologizing to those wrongfully imprisoned under the order, the law acknowledged that the original order was issued because of “racial prejudice, wartime hysteria, and a failure of political leadership.” As Rep. Gong Gershowitz read the resolution on the floor, she drew the clear parallels between what we’re experiencing today and her family’s own experience with this chapter in our nation’s history. You can see her remarks here.
Last week, we unveiled a resource page for information and materials related to the deportation raids at repcassidy.com/know-your-rights. This week, we’ve added a page related to impacts on the LGBTQ+ community. We’re working closely with national, state, and local partners to find reliable information to keep our community informed and safe.
repcassidy.com/lgbtq-preparedness
If reading all of this was overwhelming, I get it. Honestly, that’s the whole point of the pace the administration is setting in launching attacks at multiple communities. By “flooding the zone” with ever more chaotic orders, they’re counting on exhaustion to set in which will allow some of the horror to play out unchallenged. I am still not doing a great job of taking my own advice, but we have to pace ourselves and pick an action or set of actions to focus on. For our part as a team, we’re going to be doing our best to monitor and share updates and best practices. For my part personally, I’ve decided that one of the ways I’m going to take better care of myself and my community is to similarly flood the zone with love. Between the daily horror we’ve seen these last not even two weeks and having lost some dear friends recently who I regret not seeing before they died, I’m going to be letting folks know how I feel about them whenever the spirit moves me. One of my colleagues has an intentional practice of calling someone to just say hi whenever someone pops into their head and I was once on the receiving end of a call. He and I don’t share a lot in common, but it was lovely to hear him describe how he’s committed to letting people know that someone is thinking of them because you never know who might need to know that. I intend to be as aggressively loving of my people as I am aggressively resisting the hate-filled, undemocratic attacks on our country.
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Our New "LGBTQ+ Preparedness" Webpage | |
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As this current presidential administration begins to take shape, day by day we are seeing new attacks on our communities. While our team has developed resources for our undocumented neighbors on our Know Your Rights Resources page at repcassidy.com/know-your-rights, we will be using this new space to inform and update you all on the anti-LGBTQ+ policies that are being introduced and pushed by this administration. We will be detailing what executive orders have been signed and how they impact the rights of LGBTQ+ people, as well as providing legal resources and helpful guides to keep yourselves prepared for what may come. For more information, visit our website at:
repcassidy.com/lgbtq-preparedness
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Executive Order Regarding Gender and Its Implication on Passports | |
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On January 20, 2025, the President signed an executive order stating the U.S. "will only recognize two sexes, male and female." Following in step with the sentiment of this order, on January 24, 2025, Secretary of State Marco Rubio then directed the Department of State to freeze passport applications that have selected the "X" gender identifier.
However, as of now, this directive does not invalidate current passports and is not retroactive. It does state that if passports with an “X” gender marker need to be renewed, “they must reflect the person’s sex assigned at birth.”
Please see the following links for more information about:
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Announcing The 14th District Small Business Security Infrastructure Grant! | |
Our office has secured State funds to provide support to qualified State of Illinois 14th District small businesses to implement violence prevention, business protection, and safety interventions. We are excited to give out grants of up to $25,000 to qualified businesses in the district. To see if you qualify, and to keep up to date with the grant, please visit our grant website https://www.14sbsig.org/ You can also reach out to us directly at info@repcassidy.com with any questions you may have. | |
ICash Event At Our District Office | |
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State Representative Kelly Cassidy is partnering with the Office of the Illinois State Treasurer on February 10, 2025 to help residents find and claim their lost funds! I-Cash representatives will be available from 11 AM to 3 PM to answer questions and help residents file unclaimed property claims. The Office of the Illinois State Treasurer is holding over $5 billion in unclaimed property—including dormant bank accounts, uncashed checks, and insurance claims—and is seeking to return these funds to their rightful owners/heirs. You can see if you have unclaimed property here. We encourage attendees to bring an active State ID, a social security card, or other relevant records.
The event is free and open to all! For more information about this event or to schedule your appointment, please contact our district office at 773-784-2002 and ask to speak to our District Office Manager Rauly, or you can email him directly at Rauly@repcassidy.com.
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Illinois Reparations Public Hearing | |
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The State of Illinois African Descent-Citizens Reparations Commission (ADCRC) would like to invite you to attend its first Public Hearing of 2025, which will be held from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm on Saturday, February 8, 2025 at:
Northwestern University
Norris University Center
McCormick Auditorium
1999 Campus Dr.
Evanston, IL 60208
Featured speakers will discuss the impacts of Housing Segregation, Separate & Unequal Education, Racism in Environment & Infrastructure, and the Unjust Legal System.
To sign up, click HERE.
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Small Business Capital and Infrastructure Grant Program | |
Edgewater Glen Added to National Registry of Historic Places | |
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A portion of our very own Edgewater neighborhood has been added to the National Registry of Historic Places! You can find a couple of excerpts below about this exciting story.
From the Edgewater Historical Society:
The Edgewater neighborhood known as Edgewater Glen was nominated in October 2024 for placement on the National Register of Historic Places by the State of Illinois Historic Preservation Office. The US Department of Interiors approved the nomination on December 30, 2024.
From Block Club Chicago:
The architectural significance of the single-family homes and multi-unit buildings in Edgewater Glen made it eligible for the designation, said Edgewater Glen Association member Justin Colombik, who helped spearhead the work to get the district on the national list.
Many of the buildings and homes in Edgewater Glen were built between the 1890s and 1920s and are examples of American Foursquare in these styles: Prairie Style, Dutch Colonial, Queen Anne, Craftsman, Chicago Bungalow and more, Colombik said.
To learn more about the process that made this preservation effort a reality, be sure to check out the full articles above!
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Trilogy Winter Clothing Drive | |
Trilogy's annual winter clothing drive has begun and they will be accepting new and gently used winter clothing through February 2025. You can drop off all donations locally at their Rogers Park location at 1400 W. Greenleaf. | |
Rogers Park Free Store Volunteer Training | |
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The RP Free Store will be holding a virtual training on Wednesday Feb. 5 for new members. You will be fully onboarded after this training! Come work with the Free Store to support our neighbors! The Rogers Park Free Store is a grassroots project working to provide critical relief and engage in mutual aid practices within our community.
You can sign up for the training here.
You can check out their website here.
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Loyola Basketball: 48th Ward Night | |
The Loyola Basketball team invites residents of the 48th Ward to attend their game against George Washington on Wednesday, February 26th at 7 pm! Tickets are discounted at $7.73, and the game will feature a 3-1-2 concessions menu with $3 sodas, $1 popcorn, and $2 hot dogs. Click HERE to reserve your tickets, pick out your seats, and select the 48th Ward ticket type to receive the discounted tickets. Tickets must be purchased in advance of game day. | |
City Lit Theater Presents: Glassheart | |
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City Lit Theater (1020 W Bryn Mawr) is premiering its newest production "Glassheart," on Friday, January 10th! The production runs until February 23rd.
From City Lit's website:
A modern-day reimagining of the Beauty and the Beast fairy tale.
After centuries of living under a curse, the Beast and his one remaining magical servant have moved into a shabby apartment near a 7-11, hoping for a lower cost of living and better luck with girls. Their building manager, a fellow immigrant with a taste for gingerbread and children, offers help in navigating this threatening, impossible, completely mundane world, but all her gifts come with a price. When an eligible maiden moves into the second floor apartment, Beast’s servant (a relentlessly cheery lamp) colludes with the landlady to kidnap the girl. The servant finds herself assimilating the girl’s identity, her name, and bookstore job. As she becomes increasingly human, and the Beast becomes increasingly lost, she discovers what– and who– must be sacrificed for an ordinary life.
To purchase tickets, click HERE!
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The Lifeline Theater (6912 N Glenwood) is starting a new production on Friday, January 17th, through Sunday, February 16th, called "The Kid Prince and Pablo."
From Lifeline Theater's website:
In the divided Capital City, the ruling class has banned rap and dance after an attempted revolution by the People. Kid Prince is set to inherit the throne…that is, until he meets Pablo, a drummer who performs for underground rap battles. When the two hatch a plan to switch identities, mayhem and music ensue. But by standing in each other’s shoes, Kid Prince and Pablo discover connections that could start a whole new revolution. Don’t miss the Midwest premiere of this incredible hip-hop adaptation of a classic piece set to inspire a new generation!
Lifeline is also offering a preview run of the production for $25 from January 5th through the 12th.
Tickets can be purchased by clicking HERE.
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Genarrations Story Telling | |
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The Goodman Theatre is partnering with Willye B. White Park (1610 W. Howard St) to host GENARRATIONS, a FREE six-week writing and performance class for adults 55 and older on Tuesdays starting February 3rd from 10 am to 2 pm. Participants in GeNarrations meet once a week for two hours to write five-minute stories based on themes raised by Goodman Productions. Classes will be facilitated by Goodman Theatre Teaching Artist, Liam Collier. Writers of all experience levels are welcome!
For information on registration beginning January 11th, please reach out to genarrations@goodmantheatre.org.
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Bramble Theater Company Presents "Racecar Racecar Racecar"
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Bramble Theatre Company proudly presents a workshop production of Racecar Racecar Racecar running February 13-23 at Bramble Arts Loft (5545 N Clark) Written by Kallan Dana and directed by ensemble member Spencer Huffman, this wild ride of a show offers performances Wednesdays – Saturdays at 7:30PM and Sundays at 2PM. The show runs 60 minutes without intermission. Tickets range from $5 to $35 and are available at BrambleTheatre.org. Use discount code NEIGHBORLY for $5 off any general or reserved ticket! | |
Loyola University Presents: Notes From the Field | |
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Loyola University is beginning a new production called "Notes From The Field" starting February 13th and running until February 23rd at The Newhart Family Theatre (1020 W Sheridan Rd.)
From the Loyola Fine and Performing Arts website:
When fiction isn’t enough, stories must be told as they actually happened. Using verbatim transcripts of real-life interviews, Notes from the Field tackles incarceration, police brutality, and systemic educational issues with heart and hope. Anna Deavere Smith’s striking piece of documentary theatre shows the school-to-prison nexus not in allegorical critique, but in grotesquely real detail. Shattering notions of punishment and the justification of violent force, Notes from the Field interrogates what is activism, what is performance, and what you can do about it.
Loyola is also participating in the Chicago Theater Week, which runs from February 6th through the 16th. As a part of this, tickets will be offered HALF OFF using code CTW25 at checkout.
To purchase tickets for this production, click HERE!
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R Public House Hosting Galentines Party | |
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Looking for a fun Pre-Valentine's activity to do with friends? This Galentine's Day, February 13th, R Public House is hosting a DIY pizza making party! Get your own heart-shaped pizza crust, choice of sauce, cheese, and toppings and build your own heart-shaped pizza! Once you assemble your pizza, our chef will fire it in our wood-burning oven and you can enjoy your creation with a specialty Four Roses cocktail!
Thursday, February 13th, 6:00pm-9:00pm
R Public House: 1508 W Jarvis Ave
Tickets Available Here
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Broadway Armory Park Open Gym Schedule | |
The Broadway Armory has published their 2025 open gym schedule! Be sure to call them at 312-742-7502 for more information. | |
Loyola Center for Research in Child Development Seeks Volunteers | |
The Center for Research on Child Development (CRCD) at Loyola University Chicago is providing families in our community with the opportunity to take an active part in science by participating with their children in research. They are seeking interested families to volunteer for studies on infant and toddler development. To learn more about their work, you can view their website at loyolacrcd.org. | |
Illinois Department of Human Services Virtual Recruitment Presentations | |
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The Illinois Department of Human Services is Hiring!
Explore career opportunities in professional, healthcare, administration, technical, clerical/administrative, and service roles—across the entire state of Illinois!
Join their next Virtual Recruitment Presentation to:
Discover the benefits of working with the State of Illinois.
Learn about future career opportunities.
Get a clear understanding of the online application process.
Receive tips to help you successfully complete your application.
Don’t miss this opportunity! Click to register for the next presentation (English and Spanish available)
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The Misericordia community needs hard working, dependable, compassionate and motivated individuals to give of themselves to help enrich the lives of our residents. They offer a highly competitive salary and an excellent benefits package in addition to paid training for employees hired as Direct Support Professionals and Certified Nursing Assistants who have passed their state boards or have state boards pending!
To see positions available and to apply click here.
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Food Manager Sanitation Certification in Spanish / Certificación de Saneamiento Para Gerente de Alimentos En Español | |
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Sincerely,
Kelly Cassidy
State Representative, 14th District
Office of State Representative Kelly Cassidy
1507 W. Morse Ave
Chicago IL 60626
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773-784-2002 (phone)
Info@repcassidy.com
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