Kelly's Update

We’re two session weeks from the committee passage deadline and things are starting to heat up. Committee hearings will be much more intense as we approach the deadline, and the pressure to negotiate and come to agreement on complex bills will increase in the days ahead. At the same time, leadership is still working through a significant backlog of bills that have yet to be assigned to committee. I anticipate that the next couple of weeks will be challenging as we try to make sure that bills are properly vetted by committees prior to the deadline.

This week, I anticipate having three bills heard in committee: HB2507 which again attempts to tackle the ongoing battles over staffing levels and reimbursement rates for nursing homes, HB2584 which will prohibit insurance prior authorization for access to HIV prevention and treatment medications, and HB2589 which clarifies that patients have access to syringes without a prescription under Illinois law. The hearings can be found here and there are links to watch the hearings available on the same page.

We continue to make our way through the volume of bills introduced this year while also watching for issues raised by actions at the national level that require response. We’ve been working hard to make sure that our resource pages are as up to date as possible. But, if you hear about new tools, resources, or events, please share them with us.

www.repcassidy.com/know-your-rights

www.repcassidy.com/lgbtq-preparedness

Need to Know Info

The application for our grant is officially open! Click here to be taken to our website to apply! If you have any questions contact our office at info@repcassidy.com

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

Join Vivent Health + TPAN as they create a welcoming space for open discussions addressing questions and misconceptions surrounding PrEP while promoting preventive health strategies in a supportive environment. The discussion will be facilitated by experienced HIV providers and the Vivent Health + TPAN HIV prevention team. Learn how PrEP works, the options available and PrEP for women. Light refreshments and networking will follow the discussion. 

Featuring: John Stryker, Nurse Practitioner, Vivent Health + TPAN

Stephanie Peterson, Prevention Specialist, Vivent Health + TPAN

Samantha A. Devlin, MS, Research Project Manager, PACT, UIC Medicine

This event will include social-educational activities provided by CFAR.

Funding was provided by the Third Coast Center for AIDS Research in Chicago - an NIH-supported collaboration between Northwestern University, University of Chicago, and Community Partners.

Register at https://lu.ma/dmfw4hgj

To accommodate the recent surge in demand, Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias introduced a new designated “Get A REAL ID” portal on the homepage of the ilsos.gov website.

This enables Illinoisans to determine:

1) if they need a REAL ID before the May 7 federal enforcement period begins; and

2) how to find a walk-in location or schedule an appointment near them.

The office has also announced new Saturday hours at 12 DMV facilities exclusively for REAL ID services and expanded Saturday hours at six DMVs beginning March 1 through May 10.

Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi announced that property tax–saving exemptions applications for the 2024 tax year are now available online. Exemptions are savings that contribute to lowering a homeowner’s property tax bill. The most common is the Homeowner Exemption, which saves a property owner an average of $950 dollars each year.

Join the Illinois Department of Insurance (IDOI) and your Northside elected officials on Wednesday, April 16th at 6 PM for an informative virtual seminar focused on Weather and Climate-related Property and Casualty Insurance. This seminar will provide valuable insights into common homeowners, renters, and condo insurance coverages, and highlight critical gaps that are often overlooked, such as flood, sewage backup, and earthquake protection. 

RSVP now to secure your spot. Once you RSVP, the Webex link will be sent closer to the event date.

We encourage you to attend this important seminar to gain valuable knowledge and protect your property!

Neighborhood Shoutout

Edgewater's Felines & Canines is seeking donations after weeks of structural, plumbing, and electrical issues. Their HVAC system, original hot water heater, and sump pumps have all given out. They are looking to replace both sump pumps, the water heater, and kennel flooring in dog isolation, totaling more than $24,000 in repairs. If you would like to donate you can do so at their website here.

You can check out their Facebook and a recent Block Club article featuring them, where they give out instructions on how to directly donate via Venmo.

District Events

This free, nonpartisan program will help you determine who to contact in government based on what you need. We’ll review the complexities of local, state, and federal government and explain how and when to call your representatives, what to say, and why it matters.

Presented by Meghan Leonard, Ph.D., associate professor, Department of Politics and Government, Illinois State University.

This program is a partnership between Friends of the Edgewater Library and the Edgewater Branch of the Chicago Public Library.

10 a.m. on Saturday, March 15 

Edgewater Branch library, 6000 N. Broadway 

The 20th District Community Council is hosting its Monthly Public Meeting on Monday, March 17th from 6pm to 7:30 pm at the Budlong Woods Library (5630 N Lincoln Ave).

No RSVP for this event is required!

Howard & Evanston Community Center is hosting a job fair on April 16th. Do you have a business that is looking to meet with some great hiring candidates? You can register to table at their hiring fair at the Willye B White Park on April 16th, from 10:00am-2:00pm by scanning the QR code above.

Rogers Park Business Alliance (RPBA) is hosting the first Mercadito (market) of 2025! The Mercadito will be open for business on Saturday, May 3rd, 2025 from 10am to 3pm. Limited space is available. Vendors will be allowed on a first come, first served basis. The deadline to apply to be a vendor is Monday, March 17, 2025.

Apply here

Theatre

The 3rd Annual Alice Gerstenberg Play Festival celebrates the work of this early 20th century Chicago playwright and pioneer of the Little Theater Movement. This festival showcases the work of local actors and the Directing Class.

March 18, 19, and 20; 7:00pm-9:00pm

Berger (Albert) Park

6205 N. Sheridan Rd.

Chicago, IL 60660

Tickets are free, but must be reserved here

The Factory Theatre (1623 W. Howard St) is showing a new production called Kitty James and Destiny's Trail to Oregon that runs from Friday, February 21st through Saturday March 29th.

From Factory Theatre's website:

Kitty James, the Coffee Queen of Independence, MO, is heading West to find her fortune, but a mysterious medallion and an ancient prophecy may lead her down a different path in this hilarious homage to classic adventure films and text-based historical games.

**They are rating this production PG-13. Bring children at your discretion.

To purchase tickets, click HERE.

The Raven Theatre (6157 N Clark) is showing a new production of A Lie of The Mind from February 13th to March 22nd!

From the Raven Theatre's Website:

The full moon over the highway. A pay phone call in the middle of the night. And a terrible act of violence that forever changes the trajectory of eight people’s lives. Sam Shepard’s A Lie of the Mind follows two families, connected by marriage, as they grapple with the pain and fear of loving and living. Famous for his imagery, language, and tour-de-force roles for actors, Shepard’s plays dig deep into the ideas of family, destiny, and American idealism. Raven’s production, directed by Azar Kazemi, deepens the questions at the heart of the play by layering an Immigrant story on top of the already searing critique of the American Dream at the heart of this American Classic.

To purchase tickets, click HERE!

Lifeline Theatre’s Kid Series presents the world premiere of Leaf, based on the beloved picture book by Sandra Dieckmann, March 15 to April 20 at Lifeline Theatre, 6912 N. Glenwood Ave. Adaptor and Lifeline ensemble member Amanda Link teams up with director Nathaniel Niemi to bring audiences a timely world premiere featuring a polar bear on their quest to return home and the young crow who finds it within herself to help them. Leaf centers on our interconnectedness with each other and our planet, and the importance of sharing one’s story. 

PLUS: Join Lifeline Theatre every Sunday at 12:00 p.m. during the run of Leaf (following the 11:00 a.m. show, or before the 1:00 p.m. show) for our Stories Come Alive! hour. Children will enjoy an interactive storytelling session and on-your-feet theatre games. The cost is $10 per child. Reservations are recommended, though not required. Contact Lifeline Theatre at 773-761-4477 for more information. 

Funny, Like An Abortion opens March 14th and runs through the end of March! Come check out this Chicago premiere produced by Fat Theatre Project and Chicago Danztheatre Ensemble.

Set in a future America where even saying the word “abortion” is a crime, Monroe has just discovered that she is unexpectedly and unwantedly pregnant. She invites her best friend, Jade, over for a surprise abortion party in this darkly funny, devastatingly prescient play by Rachel Bublitz. Eileen Tull directs this searing Chicago premiere, co-produced by Chicago Danztheatre and Fat Theater Project. 

The cast of Funny Like an Abortion includes Bianca Thompson (she/they, Monroe) and Saniafaith (she/her, Jade), Kit Kelly (they/them, Monroe - understudy) and Erin Feldmen (she/her, Jade - understudy). 

About our space: It is not Wheelchair accessible. There are 8 steps, a landing, and another 8 steps to the auditorium. Stage strobe lighting will be used in the production. 

Friday/Saturday/Sundays- 7:30pm

Chicago Danztheatre Ensemble

1650 W Foster Ave

Tickets Available Here

Loyola University is bringing to its Newhart Family Theater (1020 W Sheridan Rd) a production of "Legally Blonde" on Thursday, March 27th!

From Loyola's website:

Elle Woods has it all figured out- great friends, great car, great dog. When it all starts falling apart, Elle leaves behind her sunny sorority for the stuffy Harvard Law School, tackling this exclusive environment with optimism and ambition. The verdict? An inspiring and wildly entertaining take on identity and power. Based on the hit movie and filled with show-stopping songs, Legally Blonde celebrates the trials and victories of being yourself.

To purchase tickets, click HERE.

Seasonal Events

The Andersonville Chamber of Commerce, in collaboration with the Emmanuel Congregation, is hosting the Purim Festival on March 16th from 10 am to 2 pm at the Bramble Arts Loft (5545 N Clark).

Included at the event will be the following events:

• Arts & crafts (Make your own masks and noisemakers for Purim story time)
• Fun games & activities with plenty of prizes!
• A hands-on Hamantaschen-making experience with Buy The Pound Bakery—take yours home, ready to bake!
• Jewish drag bubbie Merriam Levkovitz leading a live Purim story time
• A special Purim presentation by Emanuel Congregation at 10AM in the Bramble cabaret, and more!

Tickets are $15 and can be purchased HERE

Youth & Teen

The Illinois Psychiatric Society is hosting the third annual Carl C. Bell, MD Memorial Award Essay Competition as a community initiative for Illinois High School students. This essay contest is open to all high school students in Illinois and submissions are due on May 15, 2025.

The award recipient will receive a $500 cash prize. Their submission will also be presented at the 2025 IPS Annual Meeting and published in “Mind Matters,” the official IPS newsletter publication and invited to their Annual Meeting in September. Second and third place award recipients will receive a $250 cash prize.

 More information and how to apply can be found on their website.

The Chicago Park District is hosting a FREE Teen Opportunity fair on Saturday, March 15th at Warren Park from 10 am to 1 pm!

From the Park District's Website:

Register here: https://bit.ly/TOF-North

Looking for job opportunities or summer programs? Teens ages 16 and up can apply for positions with interviews available for qualified candidates on a first-come, first-served basis. To be eligible, applicants must be Chicago residents and at least 16 years old by June 17, 2025.

Younger teens, ages 13-15, can explore special programs and resources designed just for them, including the Chicago Park District’s Rec Leader in Training (RIT) and Counselor in Training (CIT) stipend-based programs. Meet with staff to learn how to apply, discover local Teen Centers, and get details on upcoming Teen Camps, spring and summer activities, and special events. Plus, connect with onsite vendors to learn more about exciting current and future opportunities!

March 1 @ Washington Park (10am-1pm)

March 8 @ Malcom X College (10am-1pm)

March 15 @ Warren Park (10am-1pm)

The Andersonville Chamber of Commerce is excited to bring together ALL THINGS KIDS on Saturday, March 15. This FREE event is intended for parents, caregivers, and the like to learn about summer camps and year-round youth programming. Interested in tabling or sponsoring the fair? Please email info@andersonville.org.

Performance Schedule

10AM | Mr. Ray

10:30AM | Merry Music Makers

11AM| Laura Doherty

11:30AM | Chicago Tap Theatre

12PM | Floriography Fellows

12:30PM | Theatre games with MAYO

To see a list of participating businesses click here.

To RSVP Click Here.

Apply Now for Your Perfect Summer Job in the Parks – for Ages 16+!

Earn a paycheck, make friends, keep active, have fun, and make a difference by working in the parks! A variety of employment opportunities are available at the Chicago Park District this summer to suit all interests, schedules, and experience levels. These positions offer competitive wages, opportunities to build life skills, flexible work schedules, and pathways to careers and year-round employment. Another plus: working indoors and outdoors, depending on the position, and having summer nights off. Positions available for Chicago residents ages 16 and older include Lifeguard, Recreation Leader (for Day Camp), and Junior Laborer (landscape maintenance). Additional positions are available for ages 18+. 

Learn more & apply now.

Job Openings

The Chicago Public Schools Talent Office is hosting a CPS Paraprofessional Job Fair on March 13, 2025. They are encouraging members of the community to apply for positions within CPS in their area at www.cps.edu/careers.

Register for event here.

Are you a junior or senior in college who is passionate about ending mass incarceration and criminal legal reform? The Illinois Prison Project seeks a dynamic, energetic Legal Support Intern to join us for summer 2025. The Intern will provide programmatic and administrative support to the IPP team in an effort to reduce mass incarceration. This internship is ideal for students interested in pursuing careers in social work, lawyering, advocacy, etc.

Apply by April 1, 2025.

Details and application instructions can be found here.

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)

Each year, the Illinois Secretary of State's office awards 100 grants for Adult Volunteer, Family and Workplace Literacy programming. One-on-one tutoring is essential to the success of the thousands of students enrolled in these programs.

Tutors are needed throughout Illinois. Volunteer to tutor basic math, reading, writing or English acquisition and the Illinois Literacy Foundation will refer you to one of our partners statewide.

Send your name, email, and zip code to info@illinoisliteracy.org or inquire HERE.

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.

Sincerely,

Kelly Cassidy

State Representative, 14th District



Office of State Representative Kelly Cassidy

1507 W. Morse Ave

Chicago IL 60626