Kelly's Update

With the arrival of May, we’re also now in the thick of the legislative calendar so when I head to Springfield this week, it’ll basically be for the month as we work towards our scheduled May 31 adjournment. I’ll get home for a day or two here and there because those tomatoes aren’t gonna plant themselves!

I spent last week catching up both on home and office tasks while also squeezing in meetings with folks who had come to Springfield the previous week who hadn’t been able to connect in the Capitol. Taylor, Rauly, Delaney, and Antonella will be here holding down the fort until June.

The week brought two devastating decisions from the federal courts. First, the U.S. Supreme Court eviscerated the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and ushered in a new low in voter suppression.

Rep. Cassidy's statement regarding the U.S. Supreme Court ruling

Then, in the ultimate Friday news dump, the US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit granted a stay at the request of the state of Louisiana that overrides the existing rule allowing for telehealth prescribing and shipping of mifepristone, effectively cutting off access to safe, affordable abortion care to people across the country. There was an immediate petition to the US Supreme Court by two manufacturers of the drugs who are the intervening defendants in the case that the FDA refused to defend. I’ll have more to say about both cases further down in the newsletter. 

In other news this week, the US Department of Justice announced that they were launching investigations into 36 school districts in Illinois, seeking to determine if the schools were including so-called “gender ideology” into their preK-12 curricula. The districts are all over the state, and many in areas not exactly known for their embrace of the LGBTQ+ community, so it’s not entirely clear why these particular districts are being targeted by federal prosecutors. I’ve reached out to the State Board of Education to request information on what the state is doing to provide support to these districts and will share what I learn as this story unfolds. 

The Senate was in session last week and reached their extended deadline to pass Senate bills to the House, although I understand there are a fair number of extension requests in the Senate so we may yet see more action from that chamber. I have one bill that came over from the Senate, SB3213 which is a slight variation on HB5046, a bill I introduced through my ongoing work to ensure chronic pain patients and others have reasonable access to their life saving medications. I am hopeful that by working with the organizations representing pharmacies, we can come up with a workable solution to an all too common problem.

Other bills in the Senate I’m watching and expecting to carry if they make it to the House include another trailer bill to the Community Emergency Services and Supports Act addressing ongoing issues identified through the implementation process and HB3711 which represents the continued work with the Governor’s office to enact stronger protections for patients facing abuse in medical settings. The issue was brought to light after a Chicago Tribune investigation revealed hundreds of cases of sexual abuse by medical professionals where the hospital took steps to shield the abuser rather than provide justice for the survivors. We have been working diligently for more than a year with regulators, physicians, hospitals, survivors, and advocates to ensure that we enact a workable policy that increases safety for all involved and particularly centers the needs of survivors and I’m feeling good about where we are in the negotiations in terms of getting this job done this session.

Finally, in what might have been the most amazing experience I’ve had in this job, I got to visit a group of 5th grade students from Kilmer who were eager to share the results of a project they poured their hearts into. The assignment was for students to identify a problem and research and create a solution. The students chose immigration, and their research included meetings with immigration attorneys who told the students about the processes people face in immigration proceedings. They learned when someone is detained, it’s very common for there to be issues getting the person’s legal documents together for their defense. The students created a document protection folder complete with a checklist, links to resources, and plastic sleeves to safely store documents in one handy place. The students were happy to share several of these folders with our office, so if you’d like to make use of this incredibly thoughtful project, reach out while supplies last.

After the death of my beloved former seatmate, Rep. Barbara Flynn Currie, several folks reached out asking about funeral arrangements. Services have been set for June 21st at 10:30 am at the University of Chicago’s Rockefeller Chapel at 5850 S. Woodlawn in Chicago.

Louisiana v FDA: 

This is a pretty convoluted case, with the US Food and Drug Administration as the original defendant, but the agency agrees with the plaintiffs, so two manufacturers of the primary abortion medication mifepristone intervened as defendants to appeal to the US Supreme Court. A lower court had already found that Louisiana is likely to prevail in their effort to roll back FDA approval of mifepristone, but had not issued a stay of the FDA rule eliminating the need for an in person appointment to prescribe mifepristone. This Covid era rule, which the Biden administration had made permanent, has allowed patients unable to travel for needed abortion care to access care from states that protect access to reproductive care and have their medications mailed to them in their home states. The heart of Louisiana’s argument in the case is that this rule undermines their near total abortion ban. 

With Illinois representing the highest number of inbound patients from states with total or near total bans, this decision could have a significant impact on the ability of providers here to meet the ever increasing demand for services. On Monday morning, the US Supreme Court responded to the petition to lift the stay on the in person prescribing requirement, temporarily restoring access to telehealth prescribing and mail order delivery of mifepristone for a week, giving both sides an opportunity to make arguments for the Court to consider. The chaos of this decision has already impacted access to care, with providers across the country immediately suspending their use of telehealth upon the release of the decision on Friday only to restore them today, all the while with the full understanding that the case and the goal of banning access to mifepristone are still pending.  

Louisiana v Callais, and The Voting Rights Act Amendment

Yeah, Louisiana has really had a week. 

This case challenged the Louisiana legislative maps that created a 2nd Black majority Congressional district in the state. On April 30, the court ruled against Louisiana’s map in a ruling that guts section two of the 1965 Voting Rights Act and opens the door for blatant racial discrimination in mapmaking and disenfranchisement of communities of color across the country. Last week, I wrote about HJRCA28, which our caucus had passed over to the Senate the previous week. It sought to restore the capacity to consider race in mapmaking via an amendment to the state’s constitution. Last week, the Senate chose not to take up the amendment before the deadline for it to appear on the November General Election ballot, citing concerns about unintended consequences based on the actual language of the decision, which had not yet been released when the House was last in session. Instead, the Senate spoke about undertaking a deliberate and thorough legal review with a focus on ensuring we do everything we can to protect the right to vote for the people of Illinois.

Need to Know Info

The Greater Chicago Food Depository, in partnership with YWCA Metropolitan Chicago, has launched a Temporary Cash Assistance for Groceries Program to support individuals who have experienced a reduction or loss of SNAP benefits.

This program provides:

Up to $150 per individual / $300 per household per month

Support for 3 months (May, June, July)

Funds that can be used anywhere Visa is accepted

Residents may qualify if they:

Experienced a reduction or loss of SNAP benefits

Are ages 55–64 OR have a child ages 14–18

Live in Chicago or Cook County

Have an email address to complete the application

Application period: April 29 – May 15

Apply Here

Join Alderwoman Maria Hadden for her second town hall of the year on Thursday, May 7th from 6 pm-8pm at Jordan Elementary School in Rogers Park.

Our office will be tabling along with other elected officials in the area. Come meet your neighbors, learn about ways to get involved in your community this summer, and hear from leaders about all of the exciting things happening in the 49th Ward!

For more information, reach out to office@49thward.org.

The Office of U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth invites you to attend a virtual informational session on Social Security. Representatives from the Social Security Administration will join virtually to present on topics including:

• Social Security retirement
• Social Security disability
• Online accounts
• And more!

Register here to participate in the webinar.

Should you have any questions or need accommodations, please email events@duckworth.senate.gov.

Poetry Magazine would love to consider your poems for a special issue honoring one of the great literary cities: Chicago. This open call is for poets born and/or raised in the city and writers who have lived in Chicago for around seven years at some point in their lives. Those seven years don’t need to be continuous.

They are looking for poems that engage with Chicago’s history, its architecture and art, the geography, the parks and landmarks, other Chicagoans, the restaurant at the end of your street—anything about the 77 neighborhoods, or those outposts serviced by the CTA, that makes Chicago the city of Big Shoulders. They welcome poems in a variety of forms, including lineated poems, prose poems, video poems, and visual poems.

The issue is planned for 2027 in honor of Chicago’s 190th birthday and Poetry’s 115th year of publication in the city. The deadline to submit is May 15, 2026, and notifications will be sent in fall 2026.

For more information and instructions on how to apply, click here.

Have you ever thought about becoming a teacher but felt like it was out of reach? No matter your starting point, becoming a teacher is possible! Whether you're switching careers, returning to school, or exploring your options, teaching offers a fulfilling path with great benefits.

In this video, meet Destiny, Flavio, and Adekoyejo-three individuals who took the leap and followed their hearts. Their journeys weren’t traditional, but with perseverance and support, they are now either on the path to becoming licensed teachers or have recently stepped into the classroom as licensed teachers. 

Your journey can begin today! If you've ever dreamed of teaching in a classroom and making a difference, now is the time to take that step. Grow Your Own Teachers Illinois is a non-profit organization that recruits and supports racially diverse and community-connected individuals to become licensed teachers.

We See the Teacher in You. Become one!

Visit BeTheTeacher.org to learn more.

The deadline for homeowners to apply for property tax exemptions is Friday, May 15. Exemptions are property tax savings that contribute to lowering a property owner’s tax bill.

Note that the Homeowner, Senior, and Persons with Disabilities exemptions are automatically renewed. However, homeowners must reapply annually for the Veterans with Disabilities, in some cases, and the “Senior Freeze” exemptions. The Assessor’s Office mailed seniors and disabled veterans who need to reapply application booklets. These must be turned in by May 15.

Applications can be downloaded at www.cookcountyassessor.il.gov/exemptions, where forms are available in Spanish, Polish, and simplified Chinese. Homeowners can also access the online application at www.cookcountyassessor.il.gov/exemptions. 

Neighborhood Shoutout

Joyce Kilmer Elementary is an authorized IB World School offering the Primary Years Programme (PYP). As part of the International Baccalaureate (IB) community, they are committed to providing a high-quality, challenging, and internationally-minded education that nurtures the whole child. Their school shares the IB philosophy and believes this approach is essential to preparing students for success in a global society.

To mark this milestone, Kilmer invites you to help shape their future identity. Please use this link to vote for one of four proposed names, ensuring their new title aligns perfectly with the Kilmer mission and vision of academic excellence and global citizenship. Your voice is essential as they move forward with purpose and pride!

District Events

Hello Howard will be bringing back their Family Days: STEAM and Stories programming this summer, from now till October! Located at the Hello Howard Community Garden (Howard/Ashland), these informational sessions will take place on Saturdays (11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.) and Wednesdays (5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.), where attendees will keep a garden journal, create art projects, and learn plenty of science and engineering lessons. All are welcome! Fill out this form if you are interested.

10 local businesses are bringing the flavor with taco specials, festive drinks and limited-time deals you won’t want to miss. Camino Clark is at the heart of it all, with a couple of nearby neighborhood spots joining the celebration.

Whether you're craving $2 tacos, margaritas, or something new to try, this is your excuse to explore, support local and make a day (or night) of it. Come hungry. Bring friends. Discover your new favorite spot!

See a list of participating restaurants here.

Chicago Northside AARP Community Group's next meeting is Tuesday May 5th at 12:30pm-Third Space at Lake View Presbyterian Church,716 W. Addison St. To participate via Zoom, they ask that you email northsideaarpcommunitygroup@gmail.com before March 4th.

Join Chicago Jodokai for an introduction to Shinto Muso Ryu, a 400 year old school of combat focused on defeating a sword with a staff. Training is through kata, which are pre-arranged sequences of stimuli-response pairs designed to build habitual responses to different scenarios. In this introductory course, students will learn the first 4 kihon (fundamentals) exercises and several kata from the Omote set.

Some of the common appeals to studying Shinto Muso Ryu include:

• The goal of learning combat with feudal era weapons is a stimulating physical, mental and intellectual challenge.
• Training in a 400 year old tradition is a novel means of learning and experiencing Japanese culture.
• Weapons can be an appealing focus of study due to their being an equalizer over strength and size.
• No prior martial arts experience is necessary. Training weapons will be provided.

This 8 session introductory course will run on Tuesdays from 6pm to 8pm, at the Unity Lutheran Church.

May 5, 12, 19, 26

June 2, 9, 16, 23, 30

For more information, see Chicagojodokai.org or contact Dan Meyer at dzmeyer@gmail.com.

Michael Kennedy, who leads a monthly Tech Talk series, will provide information on adding apps to your cellphone. Free; sponsored by Connecting Edgewater. Refreshments will be served.

May 6 , 2026

4:00 PM

5959 N. Sheridan Road

You can register here or call (773) 234-0630

Author Victoria Granacki will share the moving story of her father’s service in the South Pacific during WWII, including serving as General MacArthur’s mapmaker.

Just before the Great Depression, the Granacki family moved from Wisconsin to Chicago, in the heart of Humboldt Park's Polish neighborhood. Victoria's father, Leon, learned his art skills at Lane Tech High School, which led to a commercial art career before he was drafted in 1941.

Sponsored by Friends of the Edgewater Library.

The event is free and copies of the book will be available for purchase

Edgewater Branch Library

6000 N. Broadway

1:00 pm on Saturday, May 9.

Chicago Therapy Collective is excited to announce an upcoming event collaboration and fundraiser with Kiki Queens! May 8–9, the Kiki Queens are hosting Fantasy Island: Divas in Paradise, at the Rhapsody Theater in Rogers Park, with 100% of ticket sale profits going directly to CTC.

This show follows a mismatched crew of castaways who wash ashore on a mysterious, uncharted island – only to encounter globe-trotting burlesque showgirls, swashbuckling gay pirates, and a temperamental volcano goddess. It’s a campy, adults-only musical extravaganza packed with sequins, show tunes, and plenty of double entendres.

For dates, showtimes, and tickets, click here.

The Rhapsody Theater

1328 W. Morse Ave.

Chicago, IL 60626

Join Red Onion Arts Collective this Mother's day weekend, May 9 and 10, from 11am to 5pm at 1371 W Estes Ave and buy things to give your mom (or yourself. Whichever.). They will have items made of clay, made of yarn, and maybe even things made out of food?!

You can learn more about Red Onion Arts Collective and their mission here!

Rogers Park Business Alliance invites you to Mercadito, a one-of-a-kind craft fair celebrating local culture, creativity, and entrepreneurial spirit.

Mercadito brings together an eclectic mix of small, local businesses and independent creators offering handcrafted goods you won't find on big-box shelves. Think artisan bells, handmade jewelry, unique cat toys, stained glass, sweet treats, pottery, stationery, and more. Whether you're looking to shop small, discover something unexpected, or connect with your community, this is the place to be.

May 10th, 10:00am-3:00pm

GROW/PROGRESANDO

7056 N. Clark St.

The Sounds Good Choir enhances the well-being of older adults through the joy of singing in a fun, welcoming community. Join them on Monday May 11th at 7:30pm or on Tuesday May 12th at 2:00pm at the Admiral by the Lake for their Spring Choral Concert!

You can learn more information about the concert or about joining the choir itself here.

Now in its 17th year, the Andersonville Farmers Market has gained a reputation in Chicago and beyond for creating an inclusive, vibrant gathering space that helps close the gap between the community and local foods. The market celebrates the diversity of the Midwest through a wide range of high quality products and goods from local farms and vendors.

The 2026 Farmers Market is open for business from 3PM to 7PM every Wednesday May 13 through October 21. The Market operates rain or shine.

The Market is located on Winona St. between Clark St. and Ashland Ave. and the adjacent AT&T parking lot in the bustling Andersonville neighborhood on the north side of Chicago. 

For more information about the market please visit www.andersonvillemarket.org  

In honor of National Speech Language Hearing Month, Northwestern University will be hosting a Healthy Hearing event on May 15. If you are experiencing bothersome ringing in your ears or you have been having difficulty understanding speech in groups or crowded places this would be a great resource for you!

RSVP today for free hearing screenings, hearing device demonstrations, and more. Call 847-491-3165 to RSVP today.

Chicago’s African & Caribbean diaspora is taking the streets of Rogers Park! The 3rd Annual Howard Street Carnaval, featuring a vibrant parade and festival honoring traditions from across the African and Caribbean diaspora, will be taking place on Saturday, May 16, at Willye B. White Park (1610 W Howard). Interested in learning more? Visit HowardStreetCarnaval.com.

Theatre

A world premiere rock musical based on Norse mythology at the Lifeline Theater!

Music and Lyrics by George Howe

Book by ensemble member Christina Calvit

Developed with and directed by ensemble member Heather Currie

Welcome to the greatest rock ‘n’ roll show not on Earth! LOKI arrives at Asgard, bringing chaos, comedy, and three monstrous (maybe) children. LOKI tangles with Odin, Thor, and the mysterious Freya; each with their own agenda; their own secrets—but all paths lead to one eternal question: In an us vs. them world, can we envision a new mythology?

Content Advisory: This production contains simulated violence, explicit language, and mature themes. Recommended for audiences ages 13+.

LOKI runs from April 24 – June 14, 2026 at the Lifeline Theater with the following pricing options:

$55 Opening: May 3 at 2:30pm (Ticket includes access to the Opening Reception with complimentary drinks & light bites)

$45 Regular Run: May 8 – June 14 (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.

Written by Caridad Svich

Directed by Kamille Dawkins

In this play with broken songs, Shakespeare’s Ophelia rises out of the water dreaming of reclaiming her life. She finds herself in a neo-Elizabethan Appalachian setting where Gertrude runs a brothel, Hamlet is a Rude Boy and nothing is what it seems. In this mirrored world of word-scraps and cold sex, Ophelia cuts a new path for herself. 

The Factory Theater 

1623 W. Howard St. 

Chicago, IL 60626

Performances

April 10-May 24, 2026

To learn more and purchase tickets, click here.

Octet

by Dave Malloy

directed by Keira Fromm

music directed by Nick Sula

choreography by Laura Savage

Raven Theatre

6157 N Clark St

April 30 – June 7

In an anonymous meeting room, a group of people —always eight—gather to sing. Best known for the Broadway hit NATASHA, PIERRE, & THE GREAT COMET OF 1812, Dave Malloy’s OCTET uses chamber-inspired a cappella music to explore the total impact of life online. Hailed by the New York Times as “the most original and topical musical of the year” for its 2019 Off-Broadway premiere, this inventive and acutely relevant piece reflects the perils of the digital age.

You can learn more and purchase tickets here.

Life has been difficult for Jessie and her hope for the future has faded. Spiraling between a failed marriage and caretaker fatigue due to her criminal son and aging mother, Jessie is determined to take control of her life in the only way left to her. When society and technology isolate Jessie, when the world turns to chaos around her, and a promised future fades away: Jessie digs up her father’s old pistol with the intention to end her life. Marsha Norman’s Pulitzer Prize winning play launches us through a mother and daughter’s darkest night together.

Red Twist Theatre

1044 W Bryn Mawr Ave

Chicago, IL 60660

You can purchase tickets here.

Youth

Refugee Education & Adventure Challenge (REACH) is pleased to open up registration for their 2026 Summer Adventure Camp. Eligible youth are refugee and asylum-seeking youth (boys and girls) between the ages of 10 and 18, who primarily live in Chicago's north side neighborhoods (Rogers Park, West Ridge, Albany Park, Edgewater) or nearby suburbs.

Summer Adventure Day Camp Sessions:  REACH will offer four weekly day camp sessions (Mon-Thurs, 10 am - 4 pm) during which participants will engage in adventure sports and place-based education activities such as archery, climbing, kayaking, canoeing, nature hikes, fishing, forest restoration, and river clean-ups. [REACH will coordinate bus or van transportation based on enrollees' residential neighborhoods. However, some families may need coordinate their own transport to the pick-up location.]

Session One: June 29 - July 2

Session Two: July 6 - July 9

Session Three: August 3 - August 6

Session Four: August 10 - August 13

Summer Adventure Overnight Camping Trips:  REACH will offer three overnight (1 night / 2-days) tent camping trips (one girls only, one boys only, one co-ed), including team building activities (scavenger hunts, improv skits), nature education (macroinvertebrate investigations, outdoor cooking, habitat assessments), adventure sports (kayaking, climbing, hiking), and leadership development (problem solving, cooperative learning). [REACH will transport all participating youth via van or charter bus rentals.]

Girls' Only Camping Trip: Sat-Sun, July 11-12, 2026

Boys' Only Camping Trip: Sun-Mon, July 12-13, 2026

Co-Ed Camping Trip: Sat-Sun, August 15-16, 2026

Family Picnic & Award Ceremony: This is an end-of-summer celebration for all participating youth and their family members. 

Family Picnic: Saturday, August 22, 12-3 PM

You can fill out the preliminary registration form here - REACH Summer 2026 Pre-Registration Form, and a home visit will be scheduled with each family to complete the registration interview process. 

Remember: all camps are FREE, but registration will be limited to 30 youth per weekly session. Registration closes on June 5, 2026, or when camps reach capacity. 

Specific questions about summer camp registration can be directed to Shana Wills at swills@reachinchicago.org or Ellie Hease at ehease@reachinchicago.org.  

The Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) Scholarship Program provides financial assistance to income-eligible Chicago residents pursuing higher education. Scholarships range from $1,000 to $5,000 and may be applied toward tuition and institutional fees for the Fall 2026 semester/quarter. In 2026, the city is investing in the whole student by providing additional resources such as financial education and personal development. Learn more and apply online by May 6. 

The Office of the Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton is excited to announce the launch of the “Illinois to America: Stories that Shape Us” student essay contest for America’s 250th Anniversary. This contest is open to students in 6th-12th grade.  

Winners will have their essays displayed in the Lt. Governor’s Chicago and Springfield offices and highlighted at the Lt. Governor’s tent at the state fair. In addition, they will receive a letter, certificate, and Challenge Coin from the Lieutenant Governor. There may also be some special surprises!  

The contest is open from April 13th through 11:59pm CST on May 31st. Winners will be announced on July 4th. To learn more about the guidelines and submission process, visit the contest website.

If you have any questions, please reach out to mahi.patel@illinois.gov or ltgov.policy@illinois.gov.  

Hiring

Looking to start a new career? Find the right fit to help make a difference. IDHS offers a wide range of career opportunities.

Explore open career opportunities throughout Illinois here.

Visit an American Job Center to access employment resources, information about job training and more. Each center has knowledgeable staff that provide assistance to people who need career assistance. Assistance is available to youth and adults. All services are free.

Please call in advance to get information about hours, orientation, and workshop details.

1145 West Wilson Avenue

Room 1917

Chicago, IL 60640

(773) 831-5221

Care for Real is currently looking for 4 more volunteer drivers to join their Sunday Home Delivery team! If you fit the following requirements, this team is a good fit for you:

• Able to lift boxes weighing approximately 25lbs  
• Access to a personal vehicle  
• Pass a background check  
• Available on Sundays between 12-2pm. Commitments can be occasional or regular (weekly, once a month, etc.)  

Email them at volunteer@careforreal.org if you're interested in joining the Home Delivery team as a driver! 

They also have a number of upcoming volunteer opportunities in the community during the month of May. See the flyer above for dates and locations! Sign up for a shift here.

The Queer Future project will be asking participants at North Side Queer Pride

2026 to imagine, write, draw, print-make, and tell stories through

interviews about visions of the future as we imagine it. Using various

mediums for art-making, community members will be asked to respond to

the question: "What is the queerest possible future you can image?" Fest

goers that participate will get to contribute to a larger collaborative zine,

as well as assemble smaller take-home art pieces during the festival.

Sincerely,

Kelly Cassidy

State Representative, 14th District



Office of State Representative Kelly Cassidy

1507 W. Morse Ave

Chicago IL 60626