Kelly's Update

As I write this, I’ve got one eye on newsfeeds and social media looking for updates on the impacts of Hurricane Helene on my home state of Florida and beyond. While my hometown of Anna Maria Island was hit with a massive storm surge and flooding that surpassed anything seen in at least 30 years, my people are all safe on the mainland. We haven’t seen any significant damage although there’s still one sibling who had to evacuate and won’t get back to her home to check on it till the roads are cleared. I worry about friends in the Big Bend region who took the direct hit. There are so many tiny fishing villages along that stretch of the coast and I fear the worst in some areas with fewer resources. The storm’s effects are already being felt far beyond Florida. I heard from a friend who lives in Asheville, NC where I was earlier this week for a conference and the flooding they’re seeing is stunning. There are also expectations of mudslides in the mountains as a result of a full week of heavy rain with more to come. For everyone similarly situated looking for updates about friends and loved ones in the storm’s path, I hope for speedy and good news for you.

The Asheville trip was for a criminal justice convening hosted by the National Conference of State Legislators, bringing together a bipartisan group of state legislators and subject matter experts from across the country. These convenings frequently highlight programs that have proven successful and effective and allow us to bring ideas home to replicate in our jurisdictions.

Asheville was as lovely as I’d heard, having never made it there before. Through the magic of awkward flight schedules, I ended up flying in a day early and getting a little time to explore the area before the program started on Sunday afternoon. We spent Monday and Tuesday touring program sites. First up was the Buncombe County Family Justice Center. The concept is pretty simple: survivors of gender-based or family violence have a one-stop shop for access to justice system services, victim supports, civil legal support, and health care needs including an on-site forensic medical lab where specially trained nurses can conduct most sexual assault and domestic violence exams and collect evidence. This might have been the most interesting part of the whole visit as I’ve been deeply immersed in the myriad issues that sexual assault survivors face when seeking care in an emergency room as well as the inconsistent handling of domestic violence survivors in hospital settings given that there’s not a consistent protocol for those cases. 

We were also able to spend time with the multi-disciplinary teams at the Justice Resource Center, a Buncombe County-funded effort to bring together re-entry resources with two really innovative programs I’m planning to follow up with to get more information about. One involved a laser focus on the impact of driver's license suspension on re-entry success or failure. The process for restoration is complex and daunting, so one of the organizations in the Resource Center begins the process of supporting folks through reinstatement the minute they’re booked into the jail and identified as a person with a suspended license with the goal being to get folks positioned to be able to legally drive as soon as possible after they’re released from custody. Another partnership with the Buncombe County Sheriff was something I’d not heard about in any formal sense and involved focusing on the unique needs of folks re-entering the community from jail, as opposed to prison. Unlike prison reentry where folks have been gone for years or decades and have to build a new life sometimes from scratch with little or no outside support, jail reentry looks at the unique impacts of a shorter period of incarceration and the ways that can lead to even deeper criminal system involvement such as job loss, education interruption, and family and housing challenges, among others. 

Next week, I’ll be meeting with residents and management of Hollywood House over the course of two days to address concerns about how the new management is handling residents’ needs and issues. It’s something we’ve had to do with every management company that’s handled this and many other affordable housing developments over the years. It’s frustrating to have the same conversation over and over about treating affordable housing residents with the respect and dignity they deserve, but we’ll keep doing it until they get it right. 

I’m also looking forward to being at the annual induction ceremony for the Chicago LGBTQ Hall of Fame and seeing friends and colleagues joining me as inductees. The event is at 5:30 pm Tuesday evening at the Chicago History Museum. Details and RSVP here.

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.

The Illinois Arts Council (IAC) is pleased to announce the release of the Creative Accelerator Fund (CAF). The Creative Accelerator Fund provides crucial support to artists with a goal of strengthening the creative workforce that composes a significant portion of Illinois’ economic activity. CAF recognizes and supports the vital role that artists play as builders and innovators in their communities. By investing in their practice and professional growth, the fund not only enriches the lives of artists but also encourages broader community engagement and investment leading to a vibrant cultural landscape and fostering connections among residents.

The Creative Accelerator Fund (CAF) will provide 130 artists with a flexible $10,000 taxable award. To be eligible, individual artists must demonstrate an active and sustained practice, be age 21 or older, be established as an Illinois resident and not currently enrolled full-time at a college or university in any undergraduate, graduate, or doctoral program.

The application for the CAF open September 25th and closes November 20th, IAC staff will conduct one Creative Accelerator Fund webinar on Friday, October 4th at noon to discuss the application process. Participation requires advance registration. A recorded version of the webinar with transcripts will be made available on the Creative Accelerator Fund webpage. Please see the webpage for more details.

The Illinois Council on Women and Girls is excited to announce an open call for nominations to the Girls Committee! Girls Committee members will collaborate with Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton to share their perspectives on critical issues facing young women in Illinois. Nominations are open for any female-identifying or nonbinary high schoolers you may know who would benefit from this unique opportunity! Is there someone in your community who wants to help create change but maybe haven't had the opportunity to? This is a great chance to let her voice be heard!

Nominations are due by 11:59 p.m. on Oct. 20th and can be done here.

Neighborhood Shoutout

For as long as I’ve lived here, Sharon Endo & her babies have been such a foundational part of our community. I’m sad knowing I’ll never chat with her or love on Lunch Monkey and the crew again. Sharon will be deeply missed in our community as she brought a smile to so many people. For those interested please join and honor the life of Sharon Endo on Sunday, September 29th at Lakeview Funeral Home (1458 W Belmont Ave, Chicago, IL 60657). The visitation will be held from 11 AM - 3 PM.

In the District

Events in Rogers Park

Get ready to shop! Sunshine Enterprises has curated a special Artisan Market in Jarvis Square this Saturday! The market brings local arts and craft vendors to the Jarvis Square alfresco area where they can showcase and sell their creations.

Participating vendors are, Bedewed Skin, BWYB, Fasinarte Artesanias Mexicanas, Herb & Sip Tea Company, K Shulada, Lissy Novelties, My Beautiful Fluff, Soap Junkii Bath & Body, A Versatile You, Viciously You Collection. 

Saturday, September 28, 2024 10:30 AM - 2:30 PM at the Jarvis Square Alfresco

You are invited to join the team of changemakers that is building education equity, expanding teen employment access, and cultivating brave, compassionate leaders in our community by supporting Family Matters' 35th Annual Walk-A-Thon! The event will be held on Saturday, October 5th beginning at 7711 N Marshfield Ave. Registration will begin at 10AM and the walk will begin an hour later at 11am.

See full details from Familly Matters Below:

Family Matters’ 35th Annual Walk-A-Thon! 

Saturday, October 5, 2024

Family Matters (7731 N. Marshfield Avenue, Chicago, IL)

Registration & Breakfast: 10:00 a.m.

Group Photo & Send-Off: 10:50 a.m.

Celebratory Community Picnic, Health Fair & Carnival: 12:30 p.m.

Your contribution to this much-anticipated fundraiser will make a significant difference to the youth and the families who call Family Matters "a home away from home." We are looking forward to a day filled with stories, music, carnival games, and food, and we so hope that you can join us.

How to participate: 

Create a Walk-A-Thon fundraising page:

Click on Create/Join a Team to the right of Team Leaderboard

Fill out Sign Up form

Choose "Join an existing team" or "Create your own team" located at the top of the pop-up window; follow directions for either choice

Set a fundraising goal

Tell your potential donors why you are fundraising for Family Matters

Click on "Join this fundraiser" located at the bottom of the screen in a blue box

Share the page with your supporters via email, text, and/or social media

All proceeds will fund Family Matters’ programs:

The Family Matters School, a specialized Pre-K through 3rd grade school designed for children who thrive outside of a traditional classroom.

Partners in Learning, a tutor/mentoring program, designed to build education equity, where youth in grades 1 through 12 are paired with a dedicated tutor/mentor for the school year.

Project RISE, a teen job skills training and leadership development initiative.

Community Engagement, an initiative which brings the community together to work on various projects.

The 49th Ward Office, the Chicago Department of Public Health, and the Chicago Park District are partnering to provide free flu shots and COVID vaccines for the community. 

Please register for an appointment online here. Walk-ins will be accepted but pre-registration is highly encouraged. Please book a separate appointment for each patient in your party.

The event will take place on Thursday, October 10th, from 10am - 2pm, in the Pottawattomie Park Fieldhouse at 7340 N Rogers Ave. 

The Lifeline Theater (6912 N Glenwood) is reviving its annual concert reading series on Saturday, October 19th starting at 11 am! This concert reading series will feature a reading of Dorothy L Sayers' Gaudy Night, a riveting mystery. This reading will feature the original cast and all proceeds will go towards supporting Lifeline's work. Additionally, as a part of the ticket, a light brunch, drinks, and desert will be served.

More information about the performance and information on how to purchase tickets can be found HERE.

Get ready for an unforgettable night at CirquesExperience's Harvest Fest Circus Show on October 12th—and the best part? It’s absolutely FREE!

Watch in awe as the amazing performers light up the stage, featuring the high-energy moves of the Uptown Breakers, the dazzling acts of the CirquesExperience Show Team, the incredible skill of the Wheel Gymnastics USA Team, including the mesmerizing Cyr Wheelers from Acro Enso, and the dynamic talents from Chattooga Gymnastics. This full circus extravaganza is sure to leave you amazed!

But the fun doesn’t stop there! After the show, stick around for our Oktoberfest Party! Enjoy refreshments, challenge your friends to fun games, and snack on delicious, warm pretzels. It’s the perfect way to celebrate the season with us!

Mark your calendar, grab your friends, and join us for this spectacular night—no tickets needed!

Mobile Care Chicago, a completely free pediatric mobile clinic working in your neighborhood, is coming to Smack Dab in Rogers Park. They will be offering free kids dental cleanings in their Dental Van. Mobile Care Chicago works city wide to provide health services for kids, they come right to schools and hold events like these so that parents and guardians don't need to take extra time off work.

Please join them at Smack Dab on Saturday October 19th from 12pm-3pm.

Events in Edgewater

As the community partner to the Chicago Park District's Osterman Beach Natural Area, EEC 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 stewardship days 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 mulching, invasive plant removal, native plant installation, as well as nature-based activities like birding and plant identification walks. Come join us!

No RSVP necessary, but you can RSVP and get more information here.

6018 | North, Edgewater's Home for experimental art, is debuting a new exhibit called "Myth of the Organic City" starting Sunday, September 22 that will run through February 23, 2025. They will be hosting an opening reception on Sunday from 3-7 PM that features a culinary performance by Pruthvish Dangat! The exhibit will be open following this debut reception every Saturday and Sunday from 1-5 PM.

From 6018 | North's website:

Myth of the Organic City presents a historical and contemporary overview of Chicago’s design and land use, from its indigenous roots through 20th century infrastructure projects to present-day developments. The exhibition includes maps, landscape designs, installations, wall drawings, sculptures, and multimedia works by more than 25 artists.

THIS IS A FREE EVENT

Learn more HERE.

It was in the 1960s that Marvel Comics began creating dozens of memorable characters, one after another over a period of years, and built a single cohesive world for them to inhabit. In comic books, this was revolutionary. But the two men at the center of this renaissance struggle with the idea of credit now that they’ve made it something worth struggling over. The House of Ideas examines the rise of Marvel and the fraught relationship between the Lennon and McCartney of comic books, Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. Part Three of The Four-Color Trilogy, about the men and women who created a body of literature Americans both embraced and loathed.

World Premiere by Mark Pracht, Directed by Terry McCabe closing October 6.

You can get your tickets here.

This is the last Edgewater Monday Market of the season! If you've been meaning to get out and go to this fantastic neighborhood farmers market but just haven't had the chance, this is your time! After this it won't be back till next year! Monday night from 3pm-7pm in the Broadway Armory parking lot.

Events in Andersonville

Help Keep Andersonville Beautiful – Join Our Clean-Up Party! We're calling on all Andersonville residents, friends, and neighbors to help us maintain the beauty of our district! Keeping our community clean is vital, and we truly appreciate and value your support in making this happen. While the light poles that were removed will eventually be replaced, some areas have become unsightly as stumps have filled with trash. Although we don't have a replacement date yet, we can still take action now to keep Andersonville looking its best.

By joining us, you'll not only be helping to clear trash and debris but also contributing to sustainable efforts—we’ll be recycling all cigarette butts through TerraCycle, a program dedicated to recycling hard-to-recycle waste.

All ages welcome! Children under 13 must be accompanied by a parent. Children 13 and above must have a parent complete a waiver.

Details:

Bags Provided: We will provide trash bags for the clean-up.

What to Bring: Please bring your own gloves.

Perks: All participants will receive a t-shirt and enjoy lunch after the event!

Your participation helps us keep Andersonville a welcoming and clean space for everyone. Thank you for helping us maintain the beauty of our beloved community!

Saturday September 28th from 9am-12pm. Please sign up here.

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!

Join veteran paranormal tour guides, Orion Couling & Zack Meyer, on a night that explores the shadows of history with the lantern of mystery. This 1.5-mile walking tour will take you to the door of hidden haunts and the path of legends. Find out the eerie stories about some of Andersonville's most beloved spots!

Orion & Zack are nationally renowned storytellers that have recently brought their unique style of storytelling to the "Shadow Carriers" podcast. Now, you have the opportunity to walk alongside them as you learn more about the dark history of Chicago's Andersonville neighborhood.

Get your ticket soon so you don't miss out!

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!

Join the Andersonville Sustainable Community Alliance (ASCA) at the Bramble Arts Loft for a film Screening of The Biggest Little Farm during Andersonville Arts Weekend. Drinks and small bites will be provided during the opening reception. This is a free event with donations welcome.

THE BIGGEST LITTLE FARM chronicles the eight-year quest of John and Molly Chester as they trade city living for 200 acres of barren farmland and a dream to harvest in harmony with nature. Through dogged perseverance and embracing the opportunity provided by nature's conflicts, the Chester’s unlock and uncover a biodiverse design for living that exists far beyond their farm, its seasons, and our wildest imagination.

Featuring breathtaking cinematography, captivating animals, and an urgent message to heed Mother Nature’s call, THE BIGGEST LITTLE FARM provides us all a vital blueprint for better living and a healthier planet.

Doors open at 4:30PM, Film screening at 5:30PM

Virtual Q & A with filmmakers following the screening.

You can get more information and RSVP/Donate here.

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. 

Starting in October, YJC will be offering a recurring workshop that demystifies credit for young people. Participants will learn what credit is, how to build their credit, and how they can leverage their credit to achieve their goals. This one-hour workshop will be repeated every other month, with the first workshops taking place on October 10 and 31st from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. To sign up, email Lupita at lvavalle@youthjobcenter.org

If you are a young person aged 16-24 who's interested in pursuing a healthcare career but either don't know where to start or can't afford the training you need, we can help! YJC has partnered with TTI Medical School and Chicago Instruction Center to connect interested young people with training and certification in the following categories:

Patient Care Technician (PCT)

Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)

EKG Technician

Phlebotomy Technician Training Certification

Email our healthcare program coordinator Sara at algawerash@youthjobcenter.org to learn more

Job Openings

The Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority is hiring a Research and Analysis Manager. To apply and see any other employment opportunities visit their website.

City Wide Job Fair

There will be a city-wide career fair on Thursday, October 10th from 10 AM-2 PM at Olive-Harvey College (10001 S. Woodlawn). This event has open registration. For assistance with resumes and interviewing skills, visit your neighborhood American Job Center, levelupajc.org

S&C Electric Company Hiring

S&C Electric in Rogers Park is seeking to hire team members for several key positions in their organization. S&C Electric is a 100% employee-owned team seeking several team members in the Rogers Park community to keep the lights on across the globe.

To learn more and apply, visit ww.sandc.com/careers.

Chicago Park District Hiring Inclusion Aide

The Chicago Park District Special Recreation Unit is currently seeking part-time year-round Inclusion Aides to support participants with disabilities in need who attend our park programs. Click HERE to apply!

Sincerely,

Kelly Cassidy

State Representative, 14th District



Office of State Representative Kelly Cassidy

1507 W. Morse Ave

Chicago IL 60626