Kelly's Update

Folks are turning their attention to the upcoming Veto and Lame Duck sessions, as our meeting schedule is shifting more into deeper policy dives. As a super nerd in policy, this is my kind of fun. This week, I’ve enjoyed conversations around juvenile justice reform, corrections facilities, environmental justice, practical support for reproductive health patients, criminal justice data collection, and equity in sports betting for women’s sports.

I appreciated the opportunity to participate in Alderwoman Hadden’s Community Safety Town Hall where Torrence and I were able to share information about a program we’re working on with Rogers Park Business Alliance to provide resources to small businesses in the 14th district wishing to address security concerns in their locations. We’ll be rolling out details in the weeks ahead, but we are suggesting that small businesses take advantage of a free service provided by the Chicago Police Department. Officers and civilian staff in both the 20th and 24th police districts can provide a security assessment with specific recommendations for addressing potential vulnerabilities. Small businesses interested in taking advantage of the service can contact the 20th district at (312) 742-8714 or the 24th district at (312) 744-5907. Final details on the funding process are being worked out now with a goal of launching the program in October.

This week brought a bit of disturbing news from City Hall, and I appreciated how Alderwoman Hadden addressed the departures of three respected members of City Hall’s Intergovernmental Affairs Team. The Director of Intergovernmental Affairs was someone I had the pleasure of working with for many years, starting as a member of the House staff. I have always found her to be a consummate professional and was saddened to hear of her departure. From Ald. Hadden’s newsletter on Saturday:

“It would be difficult to not mention the drama swirling around the 5th floor again this week. Our Intergovernmental Affairs (IGA) Director resigned on Monday after his leadership team made structural changes on their reporting chain of command. He also fired two junior members of his IGA team for reportedly making disparaging remarks about his leadership team...I am very disturbed by these abrupt changes and disappointed in how the Mayor had two Black women walked out of City Hall by police as if they were threats. That's not how you treat dedicated public servants. In my experience working with the departed staff, I found them to be smart strategists, display great judgement, and to operate with the utmost professionalism and dedication to our city with all they encountered. They will be sorely missed and were invaluable assets to our city. I wish them the best of luck in their next endeavors.”

I appreciated having the opportunity to join Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez on a tour of Senn High School on Wednesday. It was particularly nice to check in with students just as the school year is getting underway, from the brand new seniors talking about their post-high school plans as they come together to first-year students in the ROTC program and sharing their impressions of the transition to high school.

From left to right: Senator Simmons, Myself, Principal Dacres, Senn students, & CEO Martinez

Sunday, I’m looking forward to saying hi to friends from the Association of Sheridan Road Condo Owners at their annual fundraiser at The Hopleaf at 1 and maybe trying my hand at the Bratwurst Toss at the Jarvis Square Oktoberfest that starts at 2. As we head into next week, we’ll be remote on Monday this week in addition to our usual Friday remote day.

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.

Voting While Trans

Learn about the rights of trans voters at Voting While Trans: Voter Education Workshop! Join us on Wednesday September 25, 2024 at 6:00 PM at the Harold Washington Library Center, 8th Floor Meeting Room for an informative session on everything you need to know about voting as a trans person.

Our workshop will cover topics such as voter registration, navigating ID requirements, understanding your rights at the polls, the impact of Voter ID laws, and more. Whether you're a first-time trans voter, looking to brush up on your knowledge, or an ally wanting to gain the tools to support the trans people in your life, this event is for you!

Come learn, ask questions, and get registered to vote. Trans voices matter, and trans people should feel empowered to exercise their right to vote!

Presented by Chicago Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights, Chicago Therapy Collective, Chicago Votes, and Life is Work.

Cook County Jail is looking for poll watchers to poll watch during elections inside the jail! Applications must be completed by persons 18 years of age or older and submitted by 12:00P.M. on Friday, October 18, 2024. Once the application deadline has been met, the CCDOC will no longer accept applications for CCDOC poll watcher security credentials for the November 5, 2024 Presidential General Election. The CCDOC will conduct a criminal background check on all applicants and those applicants will be notified of the results via the e-mail address provided within their application. Persons who do not successfully pass the CCDOC credentialing process will be provided the opportunity to appeal the denial.

CCDOC poll watcher security credentials are separate and apart from the requirements for obtaining poll watching credentials from the Cook County Clerk’s Office or the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners. No poll watcher will be permitted entry into to the CCDOC unless they have CCDOC pre-approved security credentials AND poll watching credentials from the Cook County Clerk’s Office or Chicago Board of Election Commissioners.

You can find the application online here!

The State Treasurer is holding more than 5 billion dollars in unclaimed funds for Illinoisans. The State holds these lost funds until they are claimed by either the original owner or their heirs. Property is returned at no cost with the proper identification. Since 2015, the Treasurer’s Office has returned over $2 Billion in assets.

You can click here to see if you have any unclaimed property, your money could just be a few clicks away!

If nurturing is in your nature, fostering a child can be a powerful way to help families in your community. And there isn’t just one type of foster parent — our foster parents’ backgrounds reflect our greater Chicago community and help in a variety of ways. For children, the transition from being under the care of their birth parent(s), to seeking the safe haven of a foster parent, is a time marked with

deep uncertainty. There are several types of foster care to support children while parents address the causes of out-of-home placement.

You can get involved here.

Neighborhood Shoutout

Living Newspaper Fest at Jackalope Theater

This weekend, Jackalope Theater is hosting its 15th annual Living Newspaper Fest at Broadway Armory Park at 7:30 PM Friday, Saturday, and Monday the 16th or at 3 pm on Sunday the 15th. The fest showcases five 10-minute-long plays that tackle topical news articles from the past year all written by local and national playwrights. This is a great opportunity to see. variety of contemporary, original plays in one electric evening! The show runs for around 75 minutes.

For more information about the play and to purchase tickets, click HERE.

In the District

Events in Rogers Park

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!

Community Garden Walk

Please join your neighbors for the second annual Rogers Park Community Garden Walk on Sunday, September 15, 1-3 to visit and learn about the community gardens, orchards and public gardens in our neighborhood. This event is free, fun and informative!

For more information, click here. 

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.

Events in Edgewater

Join us for a fun-filled day of giving back at the Vedgewater Community Garden! We're looking for enthusiastic volunteers to help us maintain and beautify our beloved garden. Whether you have a green thumb or not, everyone is welcome to lend a hand!

You'll have the opportunity to learn about gardening techniques, meet fellow nature lovers, and contribute to the vibrancy of our community. Together, we'll plant, tend to existing plants, and spruce up the garden for everyone to enjoy.

By volunteering, you'll not only contribute to the vibrancy of our neighborhood but also have the opportunity to meet fellow community members and make new friends. It's a fantastic chance to connect with like-minded individuals who share a passion for nature and community involvement.

To ensure a fun and productive day, we recommend wearing comfortable clothes and bringing gardening tools if you have them. Don't worry if you don't, as we'll provide the necessary equipment.

Sep 15, 2024, 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM

Vedgewater Community Garden, 6300 N Broadway

RSVP here.

The Edgewater Environmental Coalition is hosting a walking tour of the Osterman Dunes at Hollywood Beach on Sunday, September 15th from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm. The event is free, but reservations are required to attend.

To sign up and to learn more about the event, click on this LINK.

Events in Andersonville

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.

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!

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

CPS Job Fair

The Chicago Public Schools Talent Office is hosting their monthly CPS Job Paraprofessional Fair on Thursday, September 12, 2024 from 10:00am - 1:00pm at the St. Sabina - McMahon Hall, 1210 West 78th Place, Chicago, IL. 

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.

Sincerely,

Kelly Cassidy

State Representative, 14th District



Office of State Representative Kelly Cassidy

1507 W. Morse Ave

Chicago IL 60626