Kelly's Update

It’s hard to wrap my head around it being December, and staring at the calendar for the weeks ahead isn’t helping. Sorry for the late newsletter but my time at the 40th annual International Lesbian and Gay Victory Fund gathering of LGBTQ+ electeds, advocates, and subject matter experts from all over the world was wonderfully intense. 

Candace and I went out a day early to join our community at a rally at the US Supreme Court as they heard arguments in the US v. Skrmetti case concerning Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming care. The 14th district was well represented as we heard speakers from parents and families of trans kids, medical professionals, leaders of advocacy organizations, religious leaders, and so many others, all demanding that the court recognize the basic humanity of the transgender community and follow the science that supports access to these medications and treatments. The weight of that argument was everywhere around us, with a small but loud counter-rally attempting to drown out the joy filled crowd of loving families and friends. It felt like the perfect way to begin the LGBTQ+ Electeds summit. 

Kelly and Candace with Marathoner and Founder of transathlete.com, Chris Mosier, also a resident of the 14th District!

Kelly and Candace with Lilly Wachowski

Kelly with members of Planned Parenthood Illinois, who stepped out of their annual conference to stand in solidarity

On the last morning of the conference, Senator Mike Simmons and I were chatting about our convention experience and simultaneously commented along the lines of not even knowing how badly we had needed to be in community with folks who are facing similar challenges as we prepare to head back to session immediately after the new year. At one point I was moving between meeting rooms and passed one of the security guards who I’d interacted with earlier and said hello. He commented, “You’ve always got such a big smile on your face. I can’t help but smile when I see you!” Given some of the heavy material we’d been discussing, I honestly didn’t know I’d been smiling. But the reality is that having those hard conversations, sharing our ideas for protections for the folks most at risk under the new administration, and connecting with folks who quite frankly have already been facing these very policies and tactics in their states for the last several years, all of these things were exactly what I needed to be doing. Reflecting over the last couple of days, I think many of us had spent months hearing hateful attacks in the news and in commercials, particularly the very specific threats against immigrants and trans people, and gradually building up armor to try to keep the ugly out. Being together allowed us to remember how much stronger we are together. 

As the conference went on, speaker after speaker shared an important piece of advice, whether in a state like ours where we have some capacity to protect our residents but still face dire threats, or in a state where already bad things will surely escalate: don’t let them take our joy. I’m glad to have found joy in these meetings and connections and am thankful for the groups that are facilitating these important conversations.

I’ve got a lot to digest from the Victory Fund meetings even as I prepare to head out again next week to a series of meetings convened by the State Innovation Exchange or SiX, an issues based resource for progressive legislators. While the convening will reflect their broad spectrum of issues, I will also be coming together with my fellow Reproductive Freedom Leadership Caucus members for strategic discussions around strengthening the protections some of us have been able to put in place in protective and expansive states, and reports from our counterparts in restrictive states about what they’re expecting next.

As we get closer to the holidays, expect fewer newsletters until the end of the year. We’ll have a condensed version later this week on holiday events and opportunities for volunteering (let us know if you want something included by Wednesday please!) and unless something big happens, we’ll catch up after the first of the year as we head into Lame Duck Session and inauguration.

Victory CEO Annise Parker and U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin, the first out lesbian elected to the Senate

I was deeply saddened to hear about the sudden death of my dear friend and longtime executive chef of R Public House, Aaron Whittington. Aaron’s friends and family will be gathering to remember him and share their connections with the guy known in our house as “the bacon fairy” due to his popularity with neighborhood good dogs who could count on him to magically appear with a slice or two when they came by during brunch. We made him a costume for Halloween a few years ago that Jack helped us deliver.

inclusivefuneralcare.com/obituaries/Aaron-Whittington

Aaron as "The Bacon Fairy"

Need to Know Info

The Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability (CCPSA) is currently accepting applications to fill multiple vacancies for two-year terms on the Noncitizen Advisory Council (NAC). CCPSA kindly asks if you could share this opportunity with your community members and constituents. 

CCPSA is a seven-member body that oversees the Chicago Police Department (CPD), the Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA), and the Police Board. CCPSA works to increase public safety, transparency, and community input into CPD, COPA, and Police Board operations, policies, and procedures. The Commission accomplishes its work in a variety of ways, including:

Working with the Police Department on community policing programs;

Creating and approving CPD, COPA, and Police Board policies;

Selecting and removing the Police Superintendent, Police Board members, and the COPA Chief Administrator;

Recommending community-based and evidence-based solutions to public safety concerns; and

Promoting community engagement and transparency.

The NAC is a volunteer group of Chicago residents who advise Commissioners on the public safety-related perspectives and experiences of non-citizen and new Chicagoans. The NAC advises the Commission on:

Collaborations with CPD regarding the CAPS program and other existing or future Department-led community policing programs;

Monitoring CPD’s compliance with its policies;

Creating operational policies and procedures for the Commission, and much more.  

CCPSA is currently accepting applications through December 16, 2024. After the deadline, the Commission will thoroughly review all submissions, conduct interviews with selected finalists, and nominate finalists to the NAC at the Commission's January 2025 Meeting. Both non-citizen Chicagoans and those who advocate for the rights of non-citizens are encouraged to apply. CCPSA is committed to preserving the privacy of all applicants. Applicants will not be required to disclose their immigration status or share private information voluntarily with any government agency.

For more information about the Noncitizen Advisory Council and the application criteria, please visit the CCPSA website at www.cityofchicago.org/ChicagoCommunityCommission. Any inquiries or comments can be directed to NoncitizenAdvisoryCouncil@cityofchicago.org. 

Licensees, we want to warn you again of a phone scam where the caller claims to be a representative from IDFPR.

The scammer calls and says your license is under investigation. The caller then says your license will become invalid unless you take certain steps, like provide your personal information.

If you receive a call like this, DO NOT provide any information; ignore it and hang up. IDFPR will not communicate in this manner if your license is under investigation.

Neighborhood Shoutout

Ribbon cutting after hearing from Kyle Ryan, from the 49th Ward Office, Al Goldberg, SSA #24 Commissioner, Sandi Price from the Rogers Park Business Alliance, Tim Streckert, owner of the building, Ryan Tova Katz, Mural Artist, and our very own Taylor Ortiz.

This week Rogers Park Business Alliance held a ribbon cutting for the new Community in Bloom Mural completed earlier this year by local artist Ryan Tova Katz. It is a part of their ongoing Mile of Murals Project.

Artist Ryan Tova Katz standing in front of the mural

From the RPBA Website about the mural: This mural is a tribute to the resilience and warmth that rest beneath the cold, gray days of our winter. A monument to the joy that is ready to bloom once again, much like the community it celebrates.

Fundraisers and Drives

Tapestry 360 Health is having their annual Holiday Toy Drive for their pediatric patients! Donate new and unwrapped toys at the participating locations and give a little joy this holiday season! You can also purchase toys directly through the Amazon Wishlist by scanning the QR code.

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.

R Public House (1508 W Jarvis) is hosting the 13th annual stock the shelter event on Friday, December 13th at 7 pm. This holiday supply drive directly benefits the Chicagolands dog & cat rescues!

Please join friends and neighbors and help make a difference in the lives of shelter dogs/cats this holiday season. Donations can include blankets, treats, toys, bully sticks/antlers, pill pockets, new or gently used leashes/collars, and gift cards to your favorite pet or supply store. Dog or cat food is also welcome!

$10 at the door directly benefits the shelters and enters you into raffles for the whole evening.

Let's find these friends some cheer and their next forever homes!

To learn more about this event, click HERE.

This December R Public House, located at 1508 W. Jarvis, is collecting donations to support A Just Harvest! Every donation helps bring help and nourishment to those in need. Help them spread kindness and share the spirit of the season.

Lake Shore Schools in Rogers Park and Edgewater serve a diverse community that live at or below the poverty line. They are collecting winter coats and boots for the children to remain warm this winter season.

You can drop off any coats of boots at 6759 N Greenview.

District Events

The 20th Police District is hosting its monthly meeting on Monday, December 9th from 6:00pm- 7:30pm at Ebenezer Lutheran Church (1650 W Foster). Your can RSVP for this event by clicking HERE!

Riding on the success of the hugely popular Edgewater Monday Market this past summer, Edgewater Indoor Market will take place on 3 select Saturdays this winter. The indoor market will feature 30+ vendors selling prepared foods, baked goods, winter produce, warm drinks, local treats, and a small selection of artisans. 

Edgewater Monday Market will run from 10 am to 2pm at the Broadway Armory (5917 N. Broadway) in the 2nd- floor ballroom. 

 The THREE big dates for the 2025 indoor market are:

SAT, JANUARY 18

SAT, FEBRUARY 15

SAT, MARCH 22

Entry to the market is free. Vendors will have individually priced goods for purchase (and maybe some free samples!) The full vendor lineup and more details will be announced in early January 2025. Keep an eye on Edgewater Chamber's newsletter and social media channels for more information.

Theatre

Theatre Above The Law (1439 W Jarvis) will be performing two holiday readings on December 14th at 7 pm (Gremlins) and on December 15th at 5 pm (A Charlie Brown Christmas). Cookies, hot cocoa, and eggnog are complimentary, adulting those drinks is also optional!

Tickets are $15 and available at theatreatl.org!

Teddy Pendergrass shouted “Turn off the Lights” Billy Paul told the world “Me and Mrs Jones” Pattie LaBell whispered “If Only You Knew. All songs written by the creators of the Philadelphia sound, Gamble and Huff. Join us as we tell the story of this dynamic duo from their humble beginnings to writing and producing more than 170 of their greatest hits including, "For The Love of Money," "Only The Strong Survive" and "If You Don't Know Me By Now."

4450 N Clark St, December 21st - January 26th.

Click here for tickets and more.

Theatre Above the Law's next production is coming in February and they are looking for show sponsors. About the show: TATL commissioned this new work from Greta Geiser in 2021 as a modern adaptation of the Shaw play Pygmalion. LGTBQ+ couple Dr. Henrietta Higgins and Professor Quinn Pickering are tasked with transforming sheltered cis male, Elijah, into a “proper” ally of the community.

This World Premiere play by local playwright, and 1st time being produced in Chicago, Greta Geiser runs February 7-March 9. Interested in partnering? Email tony@theatreatl.org before December 20.

The Long Christmas Dinner - nine decades long in just One Act - showcases the lives of several generations of the Bayard family. Wilder breaks the boundaries of time as we measure it, and invites us to partake in “one long, happy Christmas dinner” - past, present and future. As generations appear, have children, wither, and depart, only the audience sees what changes and what remains the same. 

”Every last twig is wrapped around with ice. You almost never see that,” young Genevieve marvels, not realizing her mother made this same observation years earlier, and that one day her daughter-in-law will do the same.

Join TUTA for this fully produced holiday production, and reflect on family, tradition, and music with TUTA’s ensemble.

Productions run from November 26th through December 29th. All performances are held at the Bramble Arts Loft (5545 North Clark Street).

To purchase tickets for this event, click HERE!

To learn more about the theater company, click HERE!

Experience the next wave of new plays at the fifth annual Black Trans Women at the Center: Virtual New Play Festival! Witness the electrifying creativity and raw talent of Black trans women as they take center stage in a captivating digital showcase of new plays. 

Led by the visionary Long Wharf Theatre Artistic Ensemble member, Lady Dane Figueroa Edidi, the festival will feature a staged streaming of her new work Shape Shifter. Witness the symphony of voice rising to claim their rightful place at the forefront of the theatrical landscape.

Get ready, Chicago! Tom Mula's hit holiday play, JACOB MARLEY'S CHRISTMAS CAROL is rattling to the Lifeline stage as a ONE-MAN SHOW in just a couple of weeks. That's right, Lifeline ensemble member Phil Timberlake embodies 19 characters in a masterful feat that is sure to give new meaning to "holiday spirit!"

Did Jacob Marley get a raw deal? In Dickens’ Christmas Carol, Scrooge gets a chance to amend his ways, but what happened to his partner Jacob Marley? Was he left forever doomed? Find out at Lifeline Theatre’s production of Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol, written by Goodman Theatre’s own Scrooge, Tom Mula, and performed as a one-man show by Lifeline ensemble member, Phil Timberlake. Running November 29 - December 22.

Click Here for more information and Tickets.

The Factory Theater, 1623 W Howard St

December 13 – 14, 8:00pm

Get ready for the ultimate showdown in The Factory Theater’s glorious resurrection of Fight Night! Witness the brutality as six companies premiere their original combat pieces in an electrifying event that will leave you on the edge of your seat. Don’t miss out on the action-packed performances that will have you cheering for more. Grab your tickets now and experience the thrill of battle like never before! 

Based on the novel by Gail Rock

Music & Lyrics by George Howe and book by William Massolia

Directed by Dorothy Milne

A world premiere musical based on the classic Christmas novel by Gail Rock and the beloved 1972 television movie. Set in rural Nebraska in 1946, young Addie Mills can’t understand why her father won’t allow them to have a Christmas tree in their house. She discovers the tree symbolizes a deeper wound that her family has buried. A deeply moving and joyous coming of age holiday tale set to music centering on a young girl whose simple wish heals her family’s broken heart. 

Running until December 29, 2024

The Berry Stage at the Bramble Arts Loft, 5545 North Clark Street

Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m.; Sundays at 3 p.m. Two Saturday matinee performances on December 21 & 28 at 3:00pm.

For tickets and more information click here.

Seasonal Events

It's the most wonderful time of the year! Chicago's most unique and beloved holiday tradition is here: The Allstate CTA Holiday Fleet. Now in its 33rd year of operation, we are excited to be delivering holiday cheer throughout Chicago's neighborhoods and welcome you aboard our decked-out and dazzling Allstate CTA Holiday Train and the popular Allstate CTA Holiday Bus!

For Holiday Train and Bus schedule Click Here

Chicago’s beloved holiday market, Christkindlmarket, returns Friday, bringing holiday cheer, German flair, special edition mugs and more. There will be dozens of vendors selling food, holiday beverages, local and international food, merchandise and art. Find more information here.

November 22 – December 24

Sunday through Thursday: 11 am – 8 pm

Friday through Saturday: 11 am – 9 pm

Special Opening Hours: 

Thanksgiving (November 28): 11 am – 4 pm

Christmas Eve (December 24): 11 am – 4 pm

Daley Plaza, 50 W Washington St, Chicago, IL 60602

To see which businesses are participating click here.

Collect $150 or more in receipts from at least 4 different INDEPENDENTLY- OWNED businesses within Rogers Park from Saturday, November 30 through Tuesday, December 31, 2024 and receive a $50 rebate. Collect $200 or more and receive a $75 rebate!

For rules and information check out their website.

The Edgewater Historical Society is hosting a Seasonal Music Performance with an accompanying Sing-along at The Edge Theater on Sunday, December 15th beginning at 3 pm! This event is family-friendly, and children under 12 are admitted for free! Adults and children over 12 can purchase tickets for $15.

Tickets are available for purchase at the door, or can be purchased online by clicking HERE.

Youth & Teen

Box United runs free, year-round, no-contact boxing classes for girls ages 10-18 at Loyola Park Fieldhouse. Our program also offers free mental healthcare and fun events for participants, and we’re an official CPS vendor.

We’re looking to connect with local schools in Rogers Park to recruit more students. If you’re a principal, counselor, coach, or staff member, we’d love to collaborate! We can table at events, host meetings, or even bring boxing demos to your school. Let’s work together to support your students! Reach out to program director Erica@boxunited.org with questions!

Join the Warren Park Little League Family! Registration Opens December 1st! ⚾️

At Warren Park Little League, we’re more than just a league—we’re a tight-knit community that welcomes players of all ages and skill levels! Our casual, fun environment lets kids learn and enjoy baseball without the pressure, making it perfect for everyone from beginners to seasoned players.

Ages: 4-16

Open to All Kids

6 Different Divisions so there’s a place for every player!

Register by December 31st and save $25!

Whether your child is just picking up a bat or already loves the game, they’ll find friends, coaches, and mentors who are there to support them every step of the way. Mark Your Calendar: Registration opens December 1st!

Visit www.warrenparkyouthbaseball.org for details. Let’s make the 2025 season one filled with fun, learning, and lifelong memories!

Job Openings

We are looking for a passionate research scientist to make change and foster improvements to justice and community well-being in the state of Illinois. Use your research skills to examine public programs and data trends to better inform and advance the state’s understanding of crucial criminal justice issues. Be a leader in translating research data, findings, and implications to state and local policymakers, practitioners, and communities for positive change.

Click here for more information and to apply.

Work with us! Applications are currently being accepted for the following positions:

▪️ Account Technician

▪️ Accountant

▪️ Deputy Division Manager - Home and Community Services

▪️ Data Analyst

▪️ Training and Development Assistant

To see all openings and to apply click here.

DCEO is hiring! We have a variety of openings across the state, including:

✔️ Workforce Reporting, Performance Unit Manager

✔️ CEJA Small Business Manager

✔️ Deputy Chief Internal Auditor

✔️ Corporate Accountability Program Manager

Apply today!

The Howard and Evanston Area Community Center is seeking applicants for multiple positions on their team. Some open roles include Program Aide, Preschool Teacher, and Mentor Program Coordinator. For more information and a list of all roles, please click HERE. 

Contact Moon Parker with any questions and submit your resume and cover letter at: mparker@howardarea.org.

Join our team in Chicago! We are hiring for two open positions in Charge Processing: Investigations Supervisor and Investigations Supervisor, Spanish-Speaking option. Apply before December 9. Apply Now

Pre registration is recommended, and you can do so here.

Wednesday, December 11, 2024

10:00am - 1:00pm

Lawrence IDES Local Office

2444 W Lawrence Avenue

Chicago, Illinois 60625

Please RSVP by December 9th with Ernestina.BobedeMendez@illinois.gov, Booker.Cunningham@illinois.gov or Maria.Perez2@illinois.gov

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

21 Years of age

Valid State of Illinois Driver's License

US Citizen or legal resident

60 semester hours from accredited college or university

Combine or substitute education requirement with military service

30 semester hours and 1 year of continuous active-duty service in the US Armed Forces or 2 years of continuous active service in the US Armed Forces

Benefits: Competitive Pay, Tuition Reimbursement, Paid Vacation, Paid Holidays, Paid Sick Days, Medical, Dental, Vision Plan, Pension Plan, Deferred Compensation, Paid Academy

Sincerely,

Kelly Cassidy

State Representative, 14th District



Office of State Representative Kelly Cassidy

1507 W. Morse Ave

Chicago IL 60626