Kelly's Update

Sorry for the later than usual newsletter. We’re working on figuring out a better way to make sure the newsletter comes out on a predictable schedule, we promise. We’re balancing trying to respect the need for staff to have meaningful down time with the intense volume of information that we need to share. We’ve been aiming for Friday recaps, but are going to start experimenting with some schedule changes to see what works best. We’re trying to adapt to the current flow of information just as we did during the pandemic when we increased our output, so I’m curious what folks who read the newsletter think. For now, we’re shifting from Friday delivery to a Monday morning release. For folks who are accustomed to sending events for inclusion, please note the change. We’ll do our best to get everyone’s items into an appropriately timed newsletter, but please be patient as we make the transition.

This week was the traditional presentation of the Governor’s State of the State and Budget Address and Governor Pritzker was unapologetic in his rebukes of the endless attacks on our constitution by the Trump administration, as well as hateful rhetoric, and Nazi salutes by the president and his most ardent supporters while focusing directly on the ways his policies and actions are making things more expensive and less safe for regular people.

To watch the Governor's State of the State Address, visit here.

Photos from the Governor's Address

Kelly and Senator Simmons at the State of the State Address

To be clear, I have consistently counseled colleagues that there are some analogies that should not be invoked lightly, especially in official or political speech. Basically, unless the exact same thing is happening right in front of your eyes, don’t say it. Given that Governor Pritzker literally brought receipts to his speech, sharing exactly how long it took Hitler’s enablers to dismantle a democracy, citing specific actions to that end, and sharing his personal history with the horrors of the Holocaust, I have to say I was a bit shocked by the reaction from my colleagues on the other side of the aisle. 

On Thursday morning, a colleague I have had a great working relationship with got up to castigate the Governor, claiming that he’d called members of his party Nazis and went on to bizarrely declare himself and his colleagues as members of “Team Jew” for their support of the state of Israel in the current war as proof of the Governor’s error. I was grateful to my Jewish Caucus colleagues Jennifer Gong Gershowitz and Daniel Didech for their push back against our colleague’s characterizations of what it means to be Jewish, pushing back on the “some of my best friends…” nonsense, and appreciated both their vociferous rebukes of his callous co-opting of the impacts of the Holocaust and ongoing antisemitism while also emphasizing the distinction between our Judaism and the current leadership of the state of Israel and rightly explaining that as Jewish people we do not share a single worldview. 

All this to say, to those having feelings about how our Governor characterized the actions of the current administration: there are three very easy ways to not find yourself characterized as a Nazi which would spare you these obviously deeply uncomfortable feelings you’re experiencing. 1. Just resolve yourself to not behaving like a Nazi and you never have to worry about being called one. 2. If you find yourself in the uncomfortable position of hearing or seeing someone you’ve supported behave like a Nazi, denounce it in the most forceful way you can. If not, see step 1. 3. There is no three. Just don’t do things that lead people to say you’re acting like a Nazi. That’s really all it takes. If you hear someone offering specific examples of terrible behavior and you’re guilty of that behavior, please stop. If you’re not guilty of that behavior but are supportive of someone who does, you’re still responsible. Deal with it. Ditto if you’re watching the administration dismantle the only remaining checks on the Trump/Musk power grab by firing military leaders that are intended to transcend administrations to preserve democracy and not sounding alarms about that.

This week, I was honored to stand with Anjanette Young on the sixth anniversary of the horrific wrong raid on her home that left her standing naked in front of officers and her children pleading for basic dignity and safety. Since that day, Anjanette has been seeking justice - not just for herself but for anyone who could find themselves in the same position. And to be clear, my odds of having a military grade battering ram break through my front door are much lower than Anjanette’s ever were given that these incidents are much more likely to happen in predominantly Black and Brown wards than anywhere else in the city.

At Friday’s press conference, Anjanette made multiple mentions of the case of a young man who was 8 years old when a similar raid occurred in his home, noting the impact of that kind of trauma on a young person. His civil case against the city is set for trial soon, and she questioned the logic of how hard the city is fighting against such a clear violation of a child’s rights. Ms. Young is seeking change at both the city and state level to better regulate the procedures for service of warrants in order to prevent a repeat of hers or Peter Mendez’s experiences.

Torrence and Kelly Speaking at Anjanette Young's Press Conference

Alderwoman Maria Hadden has championed the Anjanette Young Ordinance since 2021, staying at the negotiating table for six years to insist on justice for Ms. Young. At the same time, Leader Kam Buckner and I have been working at the state level to bring the same kind of reforms to warrant service procedures to the entire state. It’s not uncommon to take on significant shifts in policy at the city or county level first and to evaluate how those policy changes need to be tweaked to be workable at the state level, and that can be a great testing ground for reforms. But if anyone can make a cogent argument for why it should take six years for us to figure out how to make sure that a woman isn’t forced to stand naked at gunpoint while her children cry for her to protect them, I’m curious how you sleep at night.

So, with that in mind, Leader Buckner has introduced HB1611, the result of collaborative work with Ms. Young, legal and law enforcement experts, and other stakeholders. I am proud to have worked with him, Ms. Young, Alderwoman Hadden, and advocates including Kyle Hillman from the National Association of Social Workers - IL and Torrence Gardner who initially met Ms. Young through his work in Alderwoman Hadden’s office and maintained a close connection with her and her quest for justice in his personal and professional capacities. 

Kelly and All at Anjanette Young's Press Conference

Next week we’ll start to see an uptick in committee action as we start to pick up speed.  We’ll be continuing to work on bill language as stakeholders review the nearly 4,000 bills that have been introduced and share their ideas for improving proposals. We’ll have more on our bills as they get ready for committee hearings. This week, I expect to present HB1715 in the Adoption and Child Welfare Committee. The bill, an initiative of the National Association of Social Workers - Illinois Chapter, is really a clean up of a statutory reference permitting the Department of Children and Family Services to have its own police force, something no director of the department has ever wanted to do. Eliminating this statutory relic allows the department to focus on the mission of protecting children and families. I’m also hoping to make progress on some unfinished business from last term, including addressing concerns of survivors of gender based violence related to the operations of the Prisoner Review Board, continued efforts to respond to the issues revealed by last year’s expose on the ways hospitals evaded responsibility for sexual abuse by medical professionals in their facilities, and once and for all ensuring that survivors’ needs are the top priority in our Sexual Assault Survivors Emergency Treatment Act.

Have a great week y’all!

Need to Know Info

Our office has secured State funds to provide support to qualified State of Illinois 14th District small businesses to implement violence prevention, business protection, and safety interventions. We are excited to give out grants of up to $25,000 to qualified businesses in the district. To see if you qualify, and to keep up to date with the grant, please visit our grant website https://www.14sbsig.org/ You can also reach out to us directly at info@repcassidy.com with any questions you may have.

Join us for an interactive webinar hosted by Rogers Park Business Alliance to learn how to apply to the 14th District Small Business Security Infrastructure Grant. Registration for webinar is not required, join the meeting that works for you. Webinars will be recorded and available for review. Questions? Contact our office at info@repcassidy.com You can find the links to the webinars on the grant website www.14sbsig.org

Webinar 1: Thursday, February 27 at 3:30 pm

Webinar 2: Wednesday, March 5 at 9:30am

When: Wednesday, March 5 at 3 - 4pm English; 4 - 5pm Spanish

Where: GROW/PROGRESANDO Entrepreneurial Training Center

7056 N. Clark St.

Join Chicago Police Department and Rogers Park Business Alliance for an essential workshop to strengthen your business. The workshop will help business owners understand the importance of a safe work environment.

Key topics include:

• reporting crimes
• preventing fraud
• implementing security strategies

There will be two workshops. The 3 - 4 pm workshop will be presented in English. The 4 - 5 workshop will be presented in Spanish.

They will share information for the 14th District Small Business Security Infrastructure Grant from our office!

We have added some updates and new resources to our Know Your Rights and LGBTQ+ Preparedness web pages. To see what's new, visit our website at:

repcassidy.com/know-your-rights

repcassidy.com/lgbtq-preparedness



Tax season is here and there’s a better way to do your taxes this year thanks to IRS Direct File. This simple, secure, and always FREE tool is available to eligible tax filers in Illinois to file both your federal and state tax returns. We're excited that Illinoisans are among the 32 million Americans who will be able to file their taxes online for free this tax season using Direct File - proof that investing in the IRS

pays off for taxpayers. While not all states have opted in, thanks to dedicated efforts by the leaders in our state, Illinois is one of 25 states participating in this initiative in 2025.

Visit directfile.irs.gov to get started.

Community organizations and leaders understand how the changing political climate impacts the community. These leaders will need resources and support to respond, so Chicago Foundation for Women created a Rapid Response Fund to support these leaders. This funding opportunity will provide grants for grassroots organizations adapting and responding to the changing environment, protecting and defending our fundamental rights.

Please review the CFW's Rapid Response Fund Guidelines and access the application on CFW’s Grant Portal.

More information for how to apply can be found at www.cfw.org/how-to-apply. 

The Senior Illinoisans Hall of Fame honors the accomplishments of Illinois residents aged 65 and older. Each year, four older adults are inducted into the Hall of Fame for their work in the arts, sports, and entertainment; community service; education; or the labor force.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for nomination to the Hall of Fame, nominees must be:

• Aged 65 or older at the time of nomination; and A current Illinois resident or a previous resident of Illinois for most of their life.
• Posthumous nominations are also accepted.
• To be eligible, the nominee must have been 65 or older and living in Illinois at the time of death.

To learn more about the nomination process, click HERE!

Neighborhood Shoutout

Andersonville Restaurant Week and Northside Restaurant Week are back! In the 14th District, the Andersonville Chamber of Commerce, the Edgewater Chamber of Commerce, and the Rogers Park Business Alliance are all a part of making this week a delight. Explore all of the fantastic restaurants that the Northside has to offer. Restaurant Week is a great way to try a new spot, explore the diverse cuisine and fine dining in the 14th District, and support small businesses!

Note that many restaurants will offer special prix fixe menus. This is not a ticketed event and standard reservations will still be accepted at businesses that standardly do. Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and carry out options are available *Price varies by location.

To see the list of restaurants participating in Andersonville, click here.

To see the list of restaurants participating in Edgewater, click here.

To see the list of restaurants participating in Rogers Park, click here.

Fundraisers and Drives

Theatre Above the Law is hosting a Bingo night fundraiser on March 3, you have the chance to win some great prizes and help fund their next season!

Monday, March 3rd at 7:00pm

R Public House, 1508 W. Jarvis (Reservations Recommended)

Trilogy's annual winter clothing drive has begun and they will be accepting new and gently used winter clothing through February 2025. You can drop off all donations locally at their Rogers Park location at 1400 W. Greenleaf.

District Events

The Jesse Brown Veterans Administration (VA) Medical Center Mobile Health Unit will be available to veterans on Tuesday, March 4 from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Broadway Armory, 5917 N. Broadway.

The Mobile Health Unit will offer veterans free health check-ups and screenings, immunizations, blood pressure checks, memory evaluations, referrals to resources, a social worker and more. These services will be provided on a walk-in basis; no appointment is needed. Bring your Veteran ID. If you have questions, please call (312) 569-5449.

The mobile health unit is hosted by Edgewater Village Chicago, a volunteer, nonprofit organization that offers free programs, activities, and resources to engage and support older adults.

Jordan Community School is hosting a Black-Owned Business Fair!

When: Friday, February 28th from 3:30pm-5:00pm.

Where: 414 N. Wolcott Ave, Chicago, IL 60626

Brighten up your February with the Instrumental Showcase in Jo Ann Rooney Hall at Loyola University! 

Featuring Jazz Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra, and Wind Ensemble, this performance will include selections by Ellington, Mozart, and Rossini. 

Wednesday, February 26th at 7:30 PM 

Purchase tickets here.

The Gerber/Hart Library and Archives has a new exhibit called "Forbidden Love at the Desert's Edge" from artist Hal Shipman. At the Sandfield Exhibition Gallery through April 26th! "Forbidden Love at the Desert's Edge" presents Hal Shipman’s innovative photography-based work, inspired by found archives. The exhibit includes selections from the Gerber/Hart collections; featuring hidden stories, precious found artifacts and loves denied.

The Loyola Basketball team invites residents of the 48th Ward to attend their game against George Washington on Wednesday, February 26th at 7 pm! Tickets are discounted at $7.73, and the game will feature a 3-1-2 concessions menu with $3 sodas, $1 popcorn, and $2 hot dogs. Click HERE to reserve your tickets, pick out your seats, and select the 48th Ward ticket type to receive the discounted tickets. Tickets must be purchased in advance of game day.

The Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability will be hosting its February 27, 2025 Public Meeting at Sullivan High School (6631 N Bosworth) at 6:30 PM. This meeting will also be streamed via Zoom, which you can sign up to view by clicking HERE.

Join The Andersonville Chamber of Commerce for Sag Hej Day, an inaugural wellness fair dedicated to fostering connection and care within the Andersonville community and beyond. This special event will take place on Sunday, March 2nd, from 10AM to 3PM at Bramble Arts Loft (5545 N Clark).

They will be hosting a variety of interactive workshops designed to support your health and healing in the new year. There will also be free legal consultations available; with so many changes happening at the federal level lately, you might have questions about your or your family's rights, get them answered! 

Hey Edgewater families and future explorers! Get ready to mark your calendars for Saturday, March 1, 2025 because Summer is in the air. Edgewater is hosting a free Kids Activity Open House to showcase and discover the best camps for kids (0 to 17). This exciting event is your golden ticket to discovering the coolest camps around, all in one place. Whether your kiddo dreams of diving into science experiments, exploring the world of nature, creating a masterpiece artwork for the fridge, or just making awesome new friends, this camp extravaganza has something for everyone! Don’t miss this chance to make your child’s summer the best one yet!

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

Theatre

"Queering Centerstage" is claiming main character energy and demanding that LGBTQ+ stories are held with care and power. It means standing in our truth. It means breaking through the status quo to a more just future.

We’re dedicated to the ongoing work of queering centerstage, contributing to our culture, and providing life-affirming care for our communities. We're also dedicated to resisting ignorance and hate that attempts to erase us. As we continue to uplift the people who came before, we will continue gathering as a beacon of hope and resistance. We hope you can join us!

QUEERING CENTERSTAGE

Wednesday, February 26 at 7PM at The Understudy

This event is free and open to the public

ASL will be provided and refreshments will be served

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!

Theatre Above The Law's latest production is Jeff Recommended! You can catch their world premiere of Greta Geiser's The Pyg Hypothesis at the Jarvis Square Theater (1439 W. Jarvis).

Chicago Theatre Week ticket special has been extended through this weekend 2/21-23. $15 tickets online only with the code C-CTW25

LGTBQ+ couple Dr. Henrietta Higgins and Professor Quinn Pickering are tasked with transforming sheltered cis male, Elijah, into a “proper” ally of the community.

Cast includes: Abby Gilster, Sara Wisterman, Kara Rivera, Elliot Lockshine, Isabella Labove, Eric Norman & JayCey Carlson.

You can purchase tickets 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. 

Seasonal Events

This Black History Month, why not check out some special events at the Field Museum?

On February 26th from 11:00am-12:00pm Families can join them for their PlayLab PlayDate: Black History Month Storytime. families with 2-6 year olds are invited to a free, drop-in storytime session hosted by the Chicago Public Library (CPL)

And on February 28th from 10:30am-12:30pm join them in the Stanley Field Hall to celebrate the opening of their newest exhibit Africa Fashion. Meet their collaborators, enjoy a live performance, and learn more about the various styles Africa has to offer. 

Always remember our office has our Museum Pass available for constituents for up to 4 free tickets to Chicago Museums!

Youth & Teen

Chicago nonprofit After School Matters (ASM) is now accepting applications from Chicago teens for their Spring programs, which run from February 24 - May 10! Teens ages 14-18 can choose from hundreds of programs in the arts, communications and leadership, sports, and STEM, to discover their passions, develop new skills for life beyond high school, and earn a participation stipend in the process.

ASM Spring program participants can earn money all while exploring their future! Teens can apply here: https://afterschoolmatters.org/apply/

For more information about ASM, visit: www.afterschoolmatters.org  

Are you between 16-24 years old and passionate about making a difference in your Chicago community? Or do you have young people in your life who would enjoy this opportunity? Here’s your chance to get involved with something big. The Public Health Institute of Metropolitan Chicago is looking for a diverse group of young people to help plan and shape the Youth Health Conference happening on Saturday, May 10, 2025. This conference is all about bringing young people and adult allies together to talk about important health issues like mental health, LGBTQ+ health, substance use prevention, harm reduction, preventing homelessness, HIV awareness, justice system impacts, and other systems that impact youth's well-being.

Interested? You can apply by filling out an online form or scheduling a time to meet with the team. You only need to complete one of these tasks to apply.

There is No School on February 25th for CPS Professional Development. We’re offering a Day Camp for kids 6 and up! It’s fun, affordable and interactive. Join Sensei Amy Jones, LSW, and Senpai Kyren Epperson, PhD, LMT to learn karate, mindfulness, play games, and more! All-day camps are LGBTQIA+ affirming and neurodivergent-friendly.

Tuesday, February 25th

Camp runs 9am-3pm (drop off starts 8:45, pick-up by 3:15)

Late pick-up is available for an extra fee (must pick up by 4:15pm)

Learn more and register online here

The Broadway Armory has published their 2025 open gym schedule! Be sure to call them at 312-742-7502 for more information.

Job Openings

Greencorps Chicago is the City of Chicago’s green-industry employment program with on-the-job training for individuals with barriers to employment.

Greencorps Chicago promotes environmental stewardship and improves the quality of life in Chicago by establishing, maintaining, and restoring natural and public spaces that are safe, healthy, and sustainable through hands-on involvement with program participants.

The outcome is healthier, safer, and more engaged communities and individuals who are prepared for employment through practical field experience and technical training in a variety of environmentally related jobs.

Greencorps Chicago is a public/private partnership between the Chicago Department of Transportation and WRD Environmental.

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