Kelly's Update

Last week started with a really special honor: I was the commencement speaker at back-to-back 8th Grade Graduations for schools in the district: Swift and Kilmer. At each, I talked about the challenges and opportunities of transitioning from grammar school to high school, reflecting on my small town childhood and transitioning to a high school where our first year class probably had more students than my entire grammar school had. I talked about the unique challenge so many of these students have faced these last several months as attacks on our undocumented neighbors and LGBTQ+ communities have escalated and undoubtedly added layers of stress to an already fraught time in a young person’s life. I also talked about how exciting high school can be, the opportunities to try new experiences that maybe weren’t available at a smaller school, or simply didn’t fit your classmates’ idea of who you were supposed to be and encouraged them to use this period of change as an opportunity to let go of things that don’t quite fit and take a chance on finding new things that do. Getting to be with families on such a celebratory day never gets old, and I’m super grateful to have gotten to do a two-fer!

Pictures from Swift and Kilmer's 8th Grade Graduations!

While I was running between the schools in Edgewater and Rogers Park, Candace and the team headed over to the Edgewater Public Library to join our neighbors in defending a drag storytime that had attracted the attention of anti-trans activists. Indivisible and Trans Up Front turned out to make a joyful celebration to welcome families coming for storytime and block the ugliness of the protestors, who were deeply outnumbered. One protestor was arrested for assaulting one of the neighbors there to defend the library, but it was otherwise a day to celebrate the beauty and diversity of our incredible community.

Rauly, Taylor, and interns Fiona and Ro at Edgewater Library

I went into the weekend super excited for the 40th Annual Artists of the Wall Festival at Loyola Park. Our team was spread super thin this weekend with folks at NorthSide Community Resources Housing Fair and Midsommarfest in Andersonville, so it was definitely a divide and conquer situation. 

Taylor and Fiona tabling at the NorthSide Community Resources Housing Fair

Rauly and Ro tabling at Andersonville's Midsommarfest

Kelly with House Dem staffers and Rogers Park neighbors, Rachel Genshireck and Jackson Paller, at Artist of the Wall!

Of course, the morning did not start out the way we expected and we awoke to the horrific news of the assassination of Minnesota State Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark and the attempt on the lives of a Senator and his wife. As news of the attacks and the conditions of the victims slowly came to light, it just got more frightening and enraging. I have had the good fortune to work with legislators from all over the country over the years, and knowing that my friends were all on lockdown while the killer was on the loose was honestly awful. I am grateful that the killer has been apprehended, and now we have to let the investigation play out. It’s tempting to run with the minimal information that’s coming out, but it’s incredibly important that we let law enforcement do their work and not make assumptions about any of the facts of the case. At the same time, it’s important to take appropriate precautions, and while I was saddened to get the message from my colleagues on the Reproductive Freedom Leadership Council that they were making the decision to remove all identifying information about members of the RFLC from their website out of an abundance of caution, I am also grateful that they’re being proactive.

I am sure that there will be a lot more information about the investigation in the weeks ahead but more than anything, I am grateful for the law enforcement officers, first responders, and medical professionals who responded to this tragedy. I’m particularly grateful that Sen. John Hoffman and his wife Yvette were able to get the treatment they needed and are expected to survive. I’m praying for my friends and colleagues who have been touched by this horrific experience and hope that they are able to find some peace.

The theme of this year’s Artists of the Wall was All Together Now, and while Candace’s first vote was to build something around the opening line to The Beatles Tune “I Am the Walrus,” (I am he as you are he, as you are me and we are all together…) we went with a slightly simpler approach. We are not known for planning ahead for our AOW entry, but we did manage to bring some sponges to cut in hearts to make our process ever so slightly simpler. Our simple message was All Together Now Protect Trans Kids. We invited friends and neighbors to sign their name on one of the hearts illustrating that we are all together. The togetherness and fellowship of this amazing neighborhood tradition where we all shake off the grays of winter to beautify our beach benches was very much a balm for the grief and fear brought on by the Minnesota attacks.

I hope to see you on Friday for our event at the Glenwood Al Fresco space: Pokémon & Pride: a Trans Youth Resource Fair. We’ll have free Pokémon cards, fun activities, lured Pokestops, and partners from across the area. See further down in the newsletter for details!

Next week, I’m excited to join with colleagues from the National Conference of State Legislatures to present on the legislative and legal work I’ve been a part of to bring justice to criminalized survivors of gender based violence. I’ll be sharing our legislative history as well as some of the stories of women who have been helped by our efforts to make it possible for survivors to finally bring the evidence of their abuse before a court to reconsider their sentences when their crimes were directly related to their abuse.

Need to Know Info

We are just a few days away from our Pokémon & Pride: Trans Youth Resource Fair!  We are partnering with the West Ridge Community Response Team to host and we are encouraging friends and family to come out and show your support for the Trans youth in your life! We will have local elected officials and some amazing organizations on hand to offer resources, plus we will be giving away starter decks of Pokémon Trading Cards and Battle Academy boxes! June 20th from 5:00pm-7:00pm at the Glenwood Ave Alfresco, on Glenwood Ave between Lunt and Morse, right off the Morse Redline stop. Come and share in your love of Pokémon and the Trans community!

Thank you to our elected partners, Alderwoman Maria Hadden, State Senator Mike Simmons, Alderwoman Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth, Cook County Board Commissioner Josina Morita, State Senator Ram Villivalam, and State Representative Kevin Olickal.

And our community partners, Chicago Therapy Collective, Trans Up Front Illinois, The Center on Halsted, Vivent Health + TPAN, The Children & Family Benefits Unit of CPS, Wonder Woods Chicago, and The Broadway Youth Center! 

Our office will be closed on Thursday in observance of the Juneteenth Holiday. You can always reach out to our office at info@repcassidy.com and we will get back to you when we return to the office on Friday.

The Transfemicide Working Group is holding 3 Community Meetings to hear from YOU on how to make Chicago safer for the trans and nonbinary community.

The meetings are being held on June 10 6:30p-8p at the Amundsen Park Fieldhouse (Westside), July 10 6:30p-8p at the Jackson Park Fieldhouse (Southside) and July 30 6:30p-8p at Broadway Armory Park (Northside). 

It is an opportunity to share your experiences and tell the City ways in which we can work to ensure the safety of trans and nonbinary people.

This working group stems from an executive order by Mayor Brandon Johnson, you can read more about here.

The City of Chicago provides financial assistance for job training through the Workforce Solutions program managed by the Department of Planning and Development. The program subsidizes training for incumbent workers and new hires for qualified Chicago businesses. Reimbursement grants up to $250,000 may fund up to 100% of eligible expenses for businesses seeking to train current employees and/or new hires. Grants do not have to be repaid.

Those interested in the program can attend an informational webinar at 10 a.m. Tuesday, June 10 to learn more and get insight into the application process. Applications open city-wide on June 16th.

Learn more about the program, register for the webinar, and to keep up to date when the application goes live click here.

Are you or a loved one looking for in-home care? Soulful Hands Home Care is a trusted Black woman-owned agency offering affirming in-home care for LGBTQ+ Elders in Chicago. Their caregivers are trained in LGBTQ+ cultural competency, they offer inclusive care plans that honor lived identity and chosen family, and compassionate, personalized care in the comfort of your home. To schedule your free consultation, call 312-324-4150 or visit Soulfulhandshomecare.com.

Are you an Illinois-based painter, sculptor, printmaker, or stained glass artist? There are potential artwork commission opportunities for you through Illinois’ Art-in-Architecture program.

The Capital Development Board purchases artworks for certain public building projects. Here’s how to be considered:

Email your portfolio to CDB.ArtinArchitecture@illinois.gov.

Check back for available commissions here.

PRO TIP: Sign up to receive alerts about open commissions here.

Email CDB.ArtinArchitecture@illinois.gov if you want to be considered for a specific RFQ.

To learn more about the Art in Architecture program, join their free webinar on Thursday, June 26 at 11am! You can register here.

You'll be joined by the Art in Architecture program coordinator to go over portfolio guidelines, eligibility, and examples of previous work and artists who have received commissions who can share their experience and advice.

Neighborhood Shoutout

What started as a small hang out in a backyard during the pandemic has become a summer staple in Edgewater. Jazz in the Yard is a weekly series put on by the Steve Knight Trio. From Jazz Guitarist Steve Knight's website: "Spring of 2020 we came together in my backyard to play tunes after months of lockdown. Now, years later, we come together weekly with dozens of our friends and neighbors to commune, to reflect, to sit still and share an experience. So many kids have heard jazz for the first time in our ‘yard’ - this is the real work of my life and music."

You can enjoy Jazz in the Yard:

Sundays, 4-6p, weather-permitting 

June - September (excluding holiday weekends)

Senn Park - 5900 N Glenwood (Edgewater)

You can also donate to support Jazz in the Yard here.

And follow his page on Facebook for updates (including cancellations due to weather)

Fundraisers and Surveys

Chi City Bakes is having their Summer Community Bake Sale on Sunday, June 22nd at Gracie O'Malley's Edgewater (6334 N. Clark St.). All proceeds from this event will be donated to the Broadway Youth Center.

Partnering with neighborhood establishments and nonprofit organizations based in and serving Chicago communities, Chi City Bakes hosts fun and impactful community bake sales throughout the city. They sell treats and donate all proceeds to these important causes.

You can sign up to bake treats for the event here.

District Events

The walking tours are back, and now is the time to sign up by going to www.EdgewaterHistory.org.

Enjoy views of the historic homes of Edgewater in our own unique outdoor museum. Edgewater has four historic districts designated by the U.S. Department of the Interior and many blocks filled with historic homes.

There is a limit of 20 in each tour. Our tour guides, who will have microphones, will lead you through the tour, and share with you our researched brochure. The fee for each tour is $15, which supports the Edgewater Historical Society Museum.

They have 8 tours available-you can read more about them and sign up for a tour here.

ONE Northside 5th Annual Juneteenth Celebration June 19th

Join your neighbors from ONE Northside at Pottawatomie Park (7340 N. Rogers) for a free, family-friendly Juneteenth celebration on the holiday itself, Thursday, June 19th. There will be a free BBQ, games, a bounce house, and more!

Hosted by the Edgewater Community Religious Association, visit the Edgewater Presbyterian Church for their Annual Juneteenth Ecumenical Service on June 19th. They are hosting the congregations, synagogues, temples, masjids, of their community area.

Thursday June 19th

Edgewater Presbyterian Church

1020 W Bryn Mawr Ave

7:00pm

Join us for our Juneteenth Freedom Day from 11am to 3pm on Saturday, June 21st! Catch us outside dancing, singing, and celebrating on Paulina north of Howard!

Join Trans Up Front for a joyful day of sun, swimming, and community at the lake—created especially for transgender and gender non-conforming (TGNC) individuals, kids, and their families. This is a relaxed, affirming space to connect, play, and celebrate in nature. Pack your beach gear, bring your loved ones, and come as you are—we’ll be out and about, together.

Sunday, June 22

1pm-4pm

Hollywood Beach

Join Femme De Violette and her fabulous cohort of plus size performers for an unforgettable extravaganza presented in collaboration with Fat Theatre Project! $20 gets you entry to this evening of sensational performances, NA beverages, and incredible raffle prizes. Bring tips, your biggest smile, and your loudest cheering voices, and join for this one-of-a-kind event on June 21!

Doors open at 7:30PM and the show begins at 8:00PM

The Coach House Theater at Berger Park located at 6205 N. Sheridan Rd.

This show is for adult audiences only.

Tickets can be bought here.

Wild Onion Market is turning one year old, and we’d love for you to celebrate with us! Join us on Sunday, June 22, from 2–5 p.m. at Wild Onion Market for a community birthday bash full of good vibes, good food, and local love.

· Live music

· Local vendors

· Activities for kids

· Free food samples

· And more!

ALL are welcome, no need to be an owner to attend! Whether you shop here every week or you’ve just been curious about what makes our co-op special, this is the perfect chance to stop by, say hi, and connect.

Bring a friend (or three), the more, the merrier! Let’s make this a true celebration of Rogers Park and all our surrounding neighborhoods.

Wild Onion Market

7007 N Clark St, Chicago

Sunday, June 22 | 2–5 PM

This month, the Care for Real team is hosting a Ribbon Cutting at our new building, open to the whole community! Join us Sunday, June 22 at 3pm at our new home for the program followed by a tour of the building. We look forward to celebrating this next chapter of Care for Real’s service to the community with all of you!

Sunday June 22nd, 3pm-5pm

5840 North Broadway

Clark Devon Hardware is having their Customer Appreciation Day on Wednesday June 25th. They will be celebrating with food and prizes!

From 11am-2pm.

6401 N Clark St

Get ready to shine bright at Jarvis Square Family Pride! We're looking forward to a fantastic day dedicated to connecting, celebrating, and having an absolute blast with all our amazing families. Come share in the happiness and feel the warmth of our incredible community. It's going to be a day full of smiles, fun, and pride!

Sunday, June 29th | 12-9 PM | Jarvis Square (1500 block of Jarvis)

Is your organization looking to get in at the ground level of a BRAND NEW summer street festival in Chicago? Edgewater Chamber of Commerce is working with Criterion Productions to launch Edgewater Music Fest later this year and they need your help!

SEP 5-7. Broadway & Thorndale. 3 days. 2 stages. 

30+ touring, buzzworthy, and local bands booked by Kickstand Productions. Local food. Local drinks. Kids activities. And more.

They're looking for event sponsors, retail vendors, food vendors, and artisans to help build Edgewater Music Fest into the can't-miss event of late summer. 

This is an awesome opportunity to engage new audiences and put your business on the map, all while supporting the Edgewater business community. 

The Edgewater music fest is accepting applications till August 1st, for retail vendors, food vendors and food truck vendors.

Theatre

Based on the novel by H.G. Wells

Adapted by ensemble member John Hildreth

Directed by ensemble member Heather Currie

Jeff recommended!

Breaking news: the Martians have landed…in Chicago! Our world is watched keenly and closely by intelligences greater than ours, yet just as mortal. They regard Earth with envious eyes as they craft their violent plans to destroy us. How on Earth will we survive? This world premiere adaptation of the novel by H.G. Wells brings razor-sharp satire to this infamous thriller. Ensemble members John Hildreth and Heather Currie, the team behind Cat’s Cradle, reimagine this sci-fi masterpiece for a modern audience.

Running May 23 – July 13, 2025

$25 Previews: May 23 – June 1 (Fridays at 7:30 p.m.; Saturdays at 7:30 p.m.; Sundays at 2:30 p.m.)

$45 Regular Run: June 6 – July 13 (Fridays at 7:30 p.m.; Saturdays at 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; Sundays at 2:30 p.m.); Military, senior, and student discounts available

Tickets can be purchased here.

Theatre Above the Law presents the Jeff Awards recommended play Matt & Ben by Mindy Kaling (The Office, Mindy Project) & Brenda Withers May 30-June 29 at The Jarvis Square Theater, 1439 W. Jarvis.

The comical play explores what if Matt Damon and Ben Affleck did not write Good Will Hunting but instead it fell from the ceiling, or sky as it were. This 75 minute play is performed by 2 local actresses as both Matt and Ben. Yes, both. The audience chooses each performance who will portray Matt and who will play Ben.

Performances are 7:30pm Fridays and Saturdays and 3pm Sundays. Tickets are available at theatreatl.org. Use the discount code C-look into my eyes for $15 tickets (subject to availability, online only).

For questions, please email tony@theatreatl.org.

Nearly every history textbook will attribute this invention to Thomas Edison. But as with most of his inventions, the story is much more complicated. In fact, French inventor Louis Le Prince perfected such an apparatus years before Edison even thought of applying for a patent. But here's the twist! Le Prince intended to travel to New York to unveil his invention and solidify his place in history, until he vanished mid-transit from a moving train without a trace; leaving the way open for Edison to reveal his own oddly similar creation. Now Le Prince's widow Lizzie and his son Adolphe must pick up the trail of their missing husband and father and fight to defend his legacy against America's celebrity inventor Thomas Edison himself.

Half Victorian-era mystery, half courtroom drama, The Curious Circumstances of Louis Le Prince explores how we struggle with unresolved tragedies and how we remember (or don't remember) the people in our history.

Fri Jun 20, 2025 - Sat Jul 19, 2025

1623 W Howard St

Dates and tickets can be found here.

Weekly Farmers Markets

The Edgewater Monday market is Chicago's only Monday farmers market featuring a diverse lineup of more than 40 vendors, including food, activities and more!

The market is every Monday from 3pm - 7pm, June through September in the Broadway Armory parking lot (5917 N. Broadway).

Check out a list of vendors here.

The Andersonville Farmers Market is back at a brand new location at 1500 W Winona! The market will be there every Wednesday through October 22nd from 3pm to 7pm featuring over 40 local vendors!

Click here for a list of vendors and pop up vendors!

Glenwood Sunday Market (GSM) is a farmers market in the Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois, devoted to providing local, sustainably grown, and produced foods that are also organic whenever possible. Composed entirely of farmers and food artisans who work in our local food shed, our mission is to make sustainable, regionally produced foods accessible to our whole community. 

You can learn more about vendors and food access programs here!

Youth & Teen

PAID Summer Youth Film Camp Opportunity in Rogers Park this August thanks to a grant from DCASE's Neighborhood Access Program! Are you 16-19 and like art, music, or film? APPLY!

Location: Lifeline Theatre, 6912 N Glenwood Ave, Rogers Park

Pay: $15/hour (yes, you get paid to learn about professional filmmaking!)

What You’ll Do:

- Help make a short film (written by collective members) with professional filmmakers

- Gain hands-on experience making a film

- Build a supportive and fun community

Camp Dates:

Sat, July 12

Sat, July 26

Mon–Fri, Aug 4–15

You can get more information and apply here.

Chicago nonprofit After School Matters (ASM) is now accepting Chicago teens for their Summer programs running June 23 - August 1. 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.

This Summer: 

• Chicago teens ages 14 & 15 can choose from programs offering stipends for participation. 
• Chicago teens ages 16+ can choose from Internship programs, which will provide an hourly wage of $16.60/hour. 

Applications are now open and can be found here.

For more information about ASM and how you can support Chicago teens, visit: www.afterschoolmatters.org

The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) is now accepting applications for the 2025-26 Student Advisory Council (SAC). The ISBE SAC provides students with an opportunity to build advocacy and leadership skills and lend their voices to policy development and important issues in education. The SAC meets with stakeholders, policymakers, and community partners virtually and in-person each month to examine research, brainstorm new ideas, and develop policy recommendations to present to the Board from a student perspective.​ You can learn more about the board on ISBE's Student Voices Page.

Applications are open until June 30th. You can apply here.

The Ballotpedia Fellows Program launched in June 2020 to provide high school and college students interested in politics with a service opportunity that helps develop subject matter expertise in political research. The program has grown over the years, and we welcome interested students, volunteers, and lifelong learners from all walks of life.

Fellows contribute 5-10 hours of work per week throughout the 8-week program, which can be completed at your discretion in order to accommodate your school schedule, extracurricular activities, and work commitments. By researching assigned local candidates and gathering key data points such as contact information, social media profiles, websites, and more, Ballotpedia Fellows play a crucial role in expanding the information available to voters nationwide.

Due to the competitive nature of this volunteer program, we require interested U.S. citizens or visa holders to apply with a resume and cover letter. Applications for the Ballotpedia Fellows Program now open! The Summer 2025 cohort will run from Monday, July 14 through Friday, September 12.

Hiring

Mintex, Inc., a call center service company, is hiring! The position involves reaching out to consumers to collect payment on delinquent accounts. Applicants must be Workforce Innovation and Opportunities Act (WIOA) customers.

Cook County is hiring! The Cook County Job Fair is on Thursday, June 26, from 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM for on-the-spot interviews and opportunities across multiple government sectors.

Secure your future in public service—register now here!

Sincerely,

Kelly Cassidy

State Representative, 14th District



Office of State Representative Kelly Cassidy

1507 W. Morse Ave

Chicago IL 60626