Kelly's Update

It’s always disorienting, starting a week after a holiday weekend, but we packed much good stuff into it last week. Sorry for the tardy newsletter, we had a planned houseguest this weekend that turned into two guests when my son’s school roommate, tiring of the long wait for the school on the quarter system to start after all their friends are back on campus, spontaneously road tripped to hang out with us for a few days. I’m happiest when cooking for a pack of hungry boys, so it was a fun distraction as we wind down the summer.

Last week’s meetings included a virtual discussion of the impacts of educational programming on facilities that are being closed for rebuilding. The court-ordered closure of the IDOC facility in Stateville has resulted in folks being relocated to facilities around the state. While academic cohorts were initially assured that they would be moved together to continue their academic progress, that has not been how the moves have been implemented. We understand the logistical challenges presented by having to accelerate the process of relocating people to other facilities under the court order, but also are concerned about the potential setbacks folks could experience due to disruptions in programming, including academic programs. The group we met with was affiliated with DePaul University’s program, but we’ve heard similar concerns from folks in Northwestern’s program as well as folks in other forms of programming. 

Staying on topic, we also met with researchers affiliated with The John Howard Association, a national prison reform advocacy group, to review the results of a study looking at corrections budgets across multiple states over a multi-year period. The study examined the fluctuations in population over the study period which included significant changes associated with the pandemic as well as the portions of budgets dedicated to health care and programming. Studies like these can help inform policy and budgetary decisions. We often see studies that measure a corrections system by focusing heavily on the cost per inmate in a system. Given the vast fluctuations in population seen in the period before during and after the pandemic, the data shows that fixed costs in operating a facility are a major driver in so-called cost-per-inmate measures, which disincentivizes programming and policies aimed at reducing the prison population to only those who are most in need of that level of intervention. States that focus on keeping that number low are also most likely to focus cuts on expenses not seen as essential to the mission of the department. That’s resulted in poorly funded programming and health care pretty much across the board.

Later in the week, I was shocked to read a statement by Chicago abortion providers and practical support organizations like the Chicago Abortion Fund sounding the alarm on the impending closure of the Greyhound Bus Terminal in downtown Chicago, citing the impact on the thousands of people who rely on bus systems for the most affordable form of travel to get her to access care. Working with my colleagues in the Dobbs Working Group, we issued our own statement praising the ways the city has protected care over the years since the decision and asking that the city once again step in to find a workable solution to the loss of this critical piece of transportation infrastructure. 

The week holds more discussions of issues we might see in the fall or lame duck session, and it’s fun to be spitballing ideas with colleagues again. I’m looking forward to seeing Loyola’s President Mark Reed speak before the City Club this week, and will be joining Alderwoman Hadden at a Community Safety Meeting where we will have some preliminary news about an exciting new program we’ll be rolling out in partnership with Rogers Park Business Alliance to support small business’ resilience and safety in the 14th district. We’ll also have some conversations about Participatory Budgeting, women’s sports teams and the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority, and a visit to Senn High School just to keep things interesting.

These last couple of days of cooler weather have been a mixed bag for me. I do love the return of sweater weather, but I’m not quite ready yet, nor is my garden! I think my kid’s reaction on Saturday morning sums it up. He came downstairs still a bit groggy and asked why it was so cold, asking what was wrong with the A/C, then stopped himself and said “Oh…the weather. Never mind.” He’ll probably hate me for sharing this, but I really felt like he summed up how we all felt waking up to 50s.

Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias has announced that the Illinois Flag Commission will begin accepting public submissions for a new state flag design! Beginning Tuesday, September 3 through Friday, October 18, the Illinois Flag Commission will accept design ideas online or via mail for consideration. 

The Illinois Flag Commission was created in 2023 after Senate Bill 1818, sponsored by State Senator Doris Turner (48th District—Springfield) and State Representative Kam Buckner (26th District—Chicago) was signed into law. The commission will select 10 designs based on how they reflect the identity of Illinois. The bill allows for the commission to evaluate if a new state flag would better represent the state’s diversity of urban, suburban and rural communities and inspire renewed state pride among Illinoisans. 

There is an opportunity for the public to participate in the process with an online public survey for Illinois residents to vote on their favorite designs or to keep the current flag. After public feedback is received, the commission will report its findings to the Illinois General Assembly and its members will vote on whether to adopt a new flag or retain the current flag design.

For any questions, please visit the Illinois Flag Commission website or contact ilflagcommission@ilsos.gov.

Two exciting updates coming out of the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR):

IDFPR has started a virtual appointment pilot program every Wednesday for individuals seeking support with IDFPR professional licenses where applicants can directly engage with members of the Licensing Team who are experts on licensing issues and can provide direct solutions to licensing challenges. This is a first-come, first-serve resource and a popular one, so spots fill up fast. You can secure a virtual appointment here.

IDFPR’s goal is to bring all applications online, which is part of the recently-signed new licensing system that they're working to implement ASAP. As such, they have made the following license applications available online:

Licensed Social Workers

Licensed Clinical Social Workers

Licensed Professional Counselors

Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor

By being available online, these applications are able to be submitted more easily and processed more expeditiously, which is good news for everyone.

It’s that time of year again! The 49th ward’s highly anticipated Shred-a-Thon will be taking place on Saturday, September 14th from 10AM-2PM on the southwest corner of Morse Ave. & Clark St., approximate address is 6934 N. Clark. Come out to shred old papers and sensitive documents with Midway Moving & Storage's commercial shredding service.

All participants are limited to two Bankers Boxes. Please remove all paper clips and binder clips ahead of time. Staples are fine! 

Neighborhood Shoutout

You Can Help Keep The Lifeline Theatre Open

For 42 years, Lifeline Theatre has produced award-winning stage adaptations, served as an anchor for the arts in Rogers Park, and played a vital role in Chicago’s theater scene. We depend on and need to expand our community of supporters who share our mission and can be our lifeline to a vibrant and sustainable fine arts organization. Lifeline Theatre explores, interprets, and reimagines books and other literary works to create stories that move us beyond the margins of our own lives.

We are sending out an S.O.S.. Since 2020, Lifeline Theatre has faced rising expenses due to inflation and our commitment to pay equity. Despite our 42-year history of excellence, these costs have resulted in a deficit budget. Our Spring Benefit gave us a strong start, raising $70,000, but we need to meet a larger fundraising goal to launch our new season. We now turn to our community to help us reach $200,000, ensuring we can manage inflation, pay our staff and artists fairly, and secure our future. Learn more about the impact of your donation below.

You can donate directly here.

Clark St. Public Plaza Grand Opening

Construction on Clark St near Devon Ave has finally wrapped up and residents can now enjoy brand new Clark St Corridor design instillations and a public plaza! These instillations are a part of the broader "Vision Clark St Corridor Master Plan" and marks a key milestone in the plan's overall progress. Click HERE to learn more about it.

We can now experience new bench seating and access to a curated garden space on what was a stretch of Arthur Ave between Clark St and Ashland Blvd that is now closed to traffic. Additionally, the public plaza in front of the 24th District police station has been revamped to reflect the new Clark St branding.

To read more about all the changes that took place as a result of this project and to read about the thoughts of the local Alderpeople that helped to make it a reality, click HERE. Also, a huge thanks to blockclubchicago for providing the pictures used above!

In the District

Events in Rogers Park

The northern-most street on the border of Chicago and Evanston is a hidden-away corner of Rogers Park. Lined with mature trees and large backyard gardens, the long block of Juneway Terrace west of busy Sheridan Road offers a tranquil outdoor setting.

The Rogers Park/West Ridge 2024 House Walk features eight homes and an additional garden that highlight that street's historic past and promising future. Homeowner guides will show their homes and share their efforts to make this street a beautiful refuge for life in the 21st Century.

This event will be held on September 8th from 12pm-4pm.

Click HERE to register and learn more!

Join your neighbors at the Jarvis Square Tavern (1502 W. Jarvis) for the highly-anticipated neighborhood Oktoberfest on Sunday, September 15th beginning at 2PM. Live music, beer, brats. Sausage toss. Frank K Duo 2pm, Sausage toss 4:30pm, Pieptone 5pm. Make sure to mark your calendar for this event that you will not want to miss!

Events in Edgewater

Last Month for Edgewater Monday Market

Chicago’s ONLY Monday Market is entering it's last month for the year, make sure to get out and check out the market while there is still time.

Broadway Armory parking lot (5917 N. Broadway)

Every Monday: 3pm-7pm

The market features a diverse lineup of more than 40 vendors, including food, activities, entertainment and more!!

World premiere 10-minute plays inspired by recent news articles, this year's Living Newspaper Festival features five original 10-minute plays from a thrilling lineup of local and national playwrights – presented together in one electric evening at Jackalope Theatre in the Broadway Armory, 5917 N Broadway, Chicago, IL 60660

RUN-TIME: 75 min. TICKETS: $15 - $30

Events in Andersonville

Get ready to celebrate creativity in Andersonville like never before! The Andersonville Chamber of Commerce is thrilled to bring you the 20th annual Andersonville Arts Weekend, turning our neighborhood into a lively, walkable art gallery from Friday, October 4th to Sunday, October 6th.

This three-day arts extravaganza showcases a kaleidoscope of creativity—from visual art to theatre, dance, music, makers, film, culinary delights, student art, and even eye-catching public installations.

Don't miss the beloved traditions, including the Self-Guided Art Walk happening all weekend long, and the can't-miss Night of Parties on Friday, October 4th at 5 PM. Top it all off with our Fall Wine Walk on Sunday, October 6th—because art and wine are the perfect pair. Cheers to a weekend of art-filled fun!

Immerse yourself in the vibrant art of Andersonville Arts Weekend while enjoying a sip (or more) of wine! The Andersonville Fall Wine Walk turns local businesses into charming wine-tasting destinations. The Andersonville Chamber of Commerce is offering one route this year with a few extra stops running from 3 - 6PM.

Tickets are $45. Check in at the Andersonville Chamber office (1544 W Hollywood Ave) from 1-4:30PM. Tickets released after 4:30PM are first come, first served. Special thanks to In Fine Spirits for sponsoring!

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

On Thursday, September 19, Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams is hosting an Ice Cream Social fundraiser at their Andersonville shop from 1 p.m. – 11 p.m. to benefit The Greater Chicago Food Depository's mission to end hunger. Visit the Andersonville shop at 5306 N. Clark St, and 25% of sales will be donated to the Greater Chicago Food Depository.

Youth & Teen

Chinese Mutual Aid Association Mentorship Programs

The Chinese Mutual Aid Association's Youth Department is offering two Adolescent Mentoring Programs: Young Women Warriors (YWW) and Young Men Making Moves (YMMM). Both programs are seeking new mentees and mentors as they start their new program year!

YWW and YMMM are programs for young people of color between 12 and 18 years old. Throughout the year, mentors and mentees come together to do fun activities, learn new skills, and navigate the challenges and triumphs of high school and college. The programs provide networks of adult professionals who help guide mentees throughout high school, college, and the beginning of their careers. 

To sign up for the YWW program, click HERE.

To sign up for the YMMM program, click HERE. 

After School Matters Fall Programs

The After School Matters Fall Application is now OPEN to Chicago Teen for their Fall programs that run through September 23 - December 14. Teens ages 14-18 can choose from hundreds of programs in the arts, communications and leadership, sports, and STEM, to discover their passions and develop new skills for life beyond high school. Teens even earn a stipend for their participation!

To learn more about this program, click HERE.

To apply to this program, click HERE.

Autumn is on the horizon! The Chicago Park District is proud to offer a diverse range of programs for patrons of all ages. View the full offerings here. Online and in person registration has begun. For more information on registration, including a checklist, click here. For the full schedule of program registration dates in a convenient chart, click here.

Job Openings

Sentencing and Policy Advisory Council

The Illinois Sentencing and Policy Advisory Council (SPAC) has an open position for Senior Policy Advisor. This role will work on their research team to assist lawmakers and stakeholders in developing data-driven sentencing and corrections policies. The job posting can be found here.

Misericordia seeks to hire for several key positions within the organization. 

Misericordia is home to over 600 children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. It has a 31-acre campus that provides around-the-clock care to support its residents. They strive to find compassionate and hardworking individuals to join its team. Misericordia offers competitive pay rates and excellent employee benefits. 

For more information on current job openings, visit Misericordia's Careers website.

As one of the largest municipal park managers in the nation, the Chicago Park District works to improve the quality of life in Chicago with recreation and leisure opportunities in safe and beautiful parks. They offer thousands of programs and events, and are responsible for maintaining 28 indoor pools, 50 outdoor pools, and 28 miles of lakefront including 23 swimming beaches plus one inland beach. If you’re looking for a job where you can use your expertise to improve the quality of life in our city, look no further than the Chicago Park District! 

Whatever your passion, schedule, or experience–they have a job for you.

Apply today!

Sincerely,

Kelly Cassidy

State Representative, 14th District



Office of State Representative Kelly Cassidy

1507 W. Morse Ave

Chicago IL 60626