Kelly's Update

It’s Friday of deadline week and we’re adjourned for the long weekend. Whether you’re traveling or staying close to home, I hope everyone has a restful holiday weekend.

This week brought horrific news as we learned of the senseless murder of Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim, Israeli Embassy staff who were attending an event at the Capitol Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C. We quickly learned that the shooter is from Chicago, with roots in activist spaces. Our entire team is holding their families and the entire community in our hearts. Hate crimes are not just an attack on those individuals and their families, they are intended to terrorize entire communities. Each new revelation in the case brings another gut punch and is a warning to everyone in political and policy spaces of the power of words. When we dehumanize any group of people with our words and actions, we make it easier for those with evil intentions to justify acts of violence. Whether it’s antisemitism as in this case, anti-immigrant, homophobic, racist, or anti-trans rhetoric, words have consequences.

Last week, after several Republican colleagues took points of personal privilege to take aim at a transgender child in a suburban middle school, I again pointed out that a small handful of adults in our chamber were far more interested in wondering about kids in locker rooms than any of the truly pressing issues facing our state. I apparently hit a nerve as I’ve spent this week listening to their repeated attempts to have my remarks stricken from the record while they farm outrage among their social media followers who have been calling and writing complaining that I accused my colleagues of pedophilia. Check the tape: that’s their word, not mine.

Every day this week, they’ve attempted to force the Parliamentarian to strike my comments from the official record, as if that will undo the ongoing harm they are causing this young person they have publicly outed, sharing her photo, name, and school in a story that has made international news. Meanwhile, not a week goes by without being informed of another suicide or attempted suicide by a trans person who can no longer live with the pain and fear these people are subjecting them to. My colleagues stood with me in voting down their senseless motions and I have no intention of standing down in the face of their unrelenting cruelty, and no parliamentary inquiry will erase the harm they continue to inflict on children and families.

You can find a link to the transcripts here and here. You can also watch my comments live here.

All six of my Senate bills passed handily, but I am most grateful for the successful passage of SB1602, which rewrites the Sexual Assault Survivor Emergency Treatment Act (SASETA) by improving access to care, putting survivors’ needs at the forefront, and setting up the program to be best able to expand to meet the needs of survivors regardless of where they live in Illinois. Most importantly, the bill reflects a small measure of the justice that was denied to my friend Cheryl Thompson when she was drugged, raped, and dumped in her own driveway. I was connected to Cheryl by a reporter who had interviewed her about her experience and promised her that I was not going to give up until we got this right. In this case, not only did we change the law governing what is acceptable in transfer agreements, but the hospital system that turned her away has actually added treatment services at a hospital that is within a short drive of the small hospital she visited that day.

As I mentioned above, we have adjourned for the holiday. The Senate adjourned on Thursday, with plans to return on Monday afternoon. We adjourned Friday afternoon, and will be back in session on Tuesday. Leadership and Budgeteers are working through the weekend to continue their efforts to craft a budget that balances cuts necessitated by revenue shortfalls with increasing needs for services and threats of even greater impacts related to the ongoing assault on the social safety net at the hands of this administration. The uncertainty of exactly what will be cut and how at the federal level adds a layer of complexity I don’t know how to plan for. Our caucus has been looking for efficiencies and cuts while also trying to explore progressive revenue options that minimize impacts on folks with less and avoid unintended consequences. From an afternoon spent walking line by line through agency budgets with an assignment to meet a cut target, to a Caucus session spent walking through dozens of revenue options ranging from loophole closures to sin taxes and everything in between, I am grateful for the thoughtful and methodical approach this leadership and budget team has put into ensuring our members are able to get all of their questions answered as the budget comes together.

"Ebony DeBerry came to Springfield and I got to introduce her to Speaker Welch, who reminded her he was originally a school board member. We had a great conversation about the importance of local leadership and how many former school board or other smaller local office holders were now in the General Assembly."

While none of my family members died in service, I am incredibly proud of my family members who chose to serve, including my mom who was one of the first women admitted to the Coast Guard in WWII, and my brother who retired from the Air Force after a long career. However you spend this holiday weekend, please take a moment to remember those who gave their lives in service to their country.

Once again, as we head into the deadline week next week, I’ll try to keep up with breaking news in our social media feeds. I’m looking forward to getting to the May 31 deadline and getting home to the district!

Need to Know Info

A reminder that our office will be closed on Monday, May 26th for Memorial Day. If you need to get in touch with us, please email info@repcassidy.com and we will get back to you when we return on Tuesday, May 27th.

Summer is almost here! Now is a great time to lock in dates to use the Museum Pass. Remember that the Museum Pass is good for general admission to any of the museums in Chicago for up to 4 adults! Sign up for the pass on our website and have a great time seeing the amazing museums Chicago has to offer!

Northside Community Resources & The Northside Community Development Corporation are hosting their 13th Annual Northside Housing Fair, which is being held on Saturday, June 14, 2025 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Truman College (Cafeteria), located at 1145 W. Wilson Avenue in Chicago. Doors will open for onsite registration at 9:30 a.m., for attendees who have not preregistered.

Learn about home-buying processes, financing solutions, fair housing practices, and many other housing resources and services available to the public. In addition, this event will feature mini-workshops on topics such as Credit & Home-buying 101 and Tenants' Rights & Fair Housing. Each year, this event has resulted in countless people achieving homeownership, securing and maintaining rental housing, and even avoiding foreclosure.

This is a free event!

To learn more, click HERE!

Neighborhood Shoutout

This week, Loyola's Quinlan School of Business hosted a day-long workshop called Capacity Building for Capacity Builders, centered on “Strengthening Collaboration for All Chicago Business,” curated by and for Chicago’s business-serving organizations. The workshop was inspired and produced with input from leaders of community-based organizations, business-serving organizations, funders, and government staff.

Chief of Staff Taylor was able to attend and had a fantastic time attending panels, workshops, and mingling with leaders from many different community organizations. Sheree Moratto of Rogers Park Business Alliance (RPBA) and Chettha Saetia of Chinese Mutual Aid Association (CMAA), two organizations that serve our community, were on a panel together called Resources and Best Practices for Supporting Small Businesses. Thank you to them and all the other organizations who participated!

As you can see in the photos above, it was very well attended, with opening remarks made by President of the Cook County Board of Commissioners Toni Preckwinkle.

Fundraisers and Surveys

Bingofesten is a night of bingo and fun at Bramble Theatre, located at 5545 N Clark. Grab a bingo card, sip a drink, and get ready to win awesome prizes from your favorite local shops. You can reserve your ticket here.

$5 per bingo card (your ticket reserves your first card; additional cards available at the event)

Bar service + light snacks provided by Bramble for purchase

Win prizes from Andersonville businesses

All Bingo proceeds support ASCA, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit working to keep Andersonville sustainable and vibrant!

Come solo or bring friends, either way, you're bound to shout BINGO by the end of the night!

The Edgewater Yard and Sidewalk Sale returns on Saturday, June 7 from 9AM-5PM! With over 200 participating households and businesses from Foster to Devon and Clark to Sheridan, shoppers can hunt for one-of-a-kind treasures all day long. This beloved neighborhood tradition brings the community together while supporting a great cause—proceeds benefit Care for Real. More info here!

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

Water safety is extremely important. Next week Wednesday, May 28th, The Chicago Park District will kick off their annual Water Safety Trainings at Leone Beach, North Ave. Beach & 57th St. Beach at 6 pm. For details & a full schedule of FREE training events open to the public, visit https://bit.ly/PublicWaterSafetySessions. Know before venturing out into the water 🌊.

Join Women & Children First, Chicago Books to Women in Prison, Midwest Books to Prisoners, and Restore Justice, as they host an event on Thursday, May 29th at 6:30pm teaching about programs that bring books to incarcerated folks & how to fight mail bans and book ban legislature.

This event will include a presentation regarding what each org does and what books are accepted and restricted. There will also be information regarding mail ban legislature proposed by the Illinois Department of Corrections and how to fight these bans, along with time to take action as a group. 

Thu, 5/29/2025 6:30pm - 8:00pm

Women & Children First

5233 N. Clark St.

Chicago, IL 60640

You can register online here.

Senn High School is hosting their year end celebration of the arts, Word on the Street. Theater, dance, music, and visual arts performances by the students. The event is free for Senn Arts students, $5 at the door.

5900 N Glenwood

May 29th, 5:00pm

Aville Grows is thrilled to welcome you to attend an open house (garden) on Saturday, May 31 from 10AM-12PM at 5339 and 5347 N Ashland.

Come meet the inspiring leaders behind the creation and thoughtful curation of this beautiful new community space. Hear firsthand about the vision that brought the garden to life, learn about exciting upcoming eco-initiatives planned for the space, and discover meaningful ways you can get involved.

RSVP here.

The Edgewater Artists in Motion NFP will host a wonderful Mini-Festival at the beautiful Colvin House Mansion on Sheridan. 20 Artists will be selling their art and jewelry and other mediums. The School of Rock will perform along with a great lineup of live music outside. Children's activities available, so bring the kids.

Beer, wine and hot food will be sold, along with non-alcoholic beverages and snacks.

Sunday, June 1st

11 AM to 7 PM

The Colvin House at 5940 N Sheridan Rd.

This is a free event.

A suggested $5 donation is appreciated, but not mandatory.

The Chicago Mosaic School is hosting its annual Mosaic Fest on Saturday, June 1 from 11 am to 6 pm at 1127 W Granville! This event is a perfect way to experience all that The Chicago Mosaic School has to offer while connecting with your community. Try your hand at creating a variety of mosaic projects, listen to live music, and meet your neighbors, all while enjoying food and beverages.

To learn more about this event and to purchase tickets, click HERE!

Chicago’s ONLY Monday farmers market is returning for the 2025 season.  Produced by Edgewater Chamber of Commerce, Edgewater Monday Market will take place every Monday from 3pm to 7pm at the southeast corner of Broadway & Thorndale, in the Broadway Armory parking lot (approx. 5917 N. Broadway).

The market runs from June 2nd to September 29th and will feature 45+ vendors over the course of the season, including a mix of weekly vendors, and rotating pop-up vendors. Featured vendors include a curated selection of local farmers, produce, specialty foods, bakers, prepared foods, craft goods, and artisans. This year’s market will also include various activities, musicians, and a chef’s table for demonstrations and samples on select dates

You can see a list of vendors here.

The Northside AARP Community Group meets the first Tuesday of the month. Their next meeting is June 3rd. This month's special guest will be Cook County Sheriff's Canine Unit.

June 3rd, 12:30pm

Third Space at Lake View Presbyterian Church,

2nd Floor Classroom (ELEVATOR ACCESSIBLE)

716 W. Addison St. Chicago, IL 60613

This summer, A Just Harvest is celebrating the 5th anniversary of Saturdays in June Community Safety & Wellness Saturdays! Each Saturday in June, they are bringing our community together to celebrate and invest in our community through fun and free to attend events. 

June 7: 5k Community Wellness Celebration and Health Fair

June 14: Annual Summer Kick-Off Collaboration

June 21: Juneteenth Celebration

June 28: BIPOC and Queer Business Pop-up

Join A Just Harvest at 7649 N. Paulina Saturdays in June from 11AM-3PM!

Centro Romero's Annual Health Fair 2025 take place at 6216 N. Clark on June 10th from 9:00am-2:00pm. This event focuses on health as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being. This event is free and open to all!

Indigenous people are central to the story of popular culture in the Western Hemisphere and popular culture is important to many Indigenous people and experiences. Will Hansen, co-curator of the exhibition Native Pop! at the Newberry Library, will share highlights from four centuries of Indigenous creators, athletes, activists, and fans engaged with pop — from pamphlets to comic books, and from daguerreotypes to video games.

Registration is recommended but not required. You may register on the library’s website, by phone, or in person at any Chicago Public Library location.

Held in partnership with Friends of the Edgewater Library.

Theatre

Raven Theatre's Season 42 ends with a stunning world premiere, GORGEOUS by Keiko Green! This funny, complicated, and one-of-a-kind production- directed by Kirsten Fitzgerald- is a hilarious and charming show you do not want to miss.

Jenny has a simple life; she takes care of the elderly and shows dogs professionally. When her just-a-little-bit-older boyfriend Bill dies suddenly, all Jenny wants is to get rid of his stuff and continue to show his champion Bulldog, GORGEOUS. Enter Bernie, a tornado of a woman. Amid the boxes of things that made up Bill’s life, Jenny and Bernie must find a way forward for themselves and the dog.

Gorgeous runs May 1-June 7th, at Raven Theatre

6157 N Clark St

You can get tickets here.

Based on the novel by H.G. Wells

Adapted by ensemble member John Hildreth

Directed by ensemble member Heather Currie

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.

The Spot on Theatre company will be showing a new play called "The Cuckoo Clock" from May 1st to May 31st at the Berger Park Coach House (6205 N Sheridan Rd).

Play Description from the Theatre's website:

When a young girl moves in with her seemingly ancient Aunts, she discovers a magical house in Victorian England where the charming cuckoo clock comes to life and reveals a world of enchantment and adventure. Travel along with our heroine as she learns ever so much about kindness, friendship, and the sustaining power of love. Who knew that growing up and being at home could be such fun. 

​For children, families, adults, and all those young at heart! This performance is best suited for children 8 and above. The show will run for about 2 hours, including a ten minute intermission.  

To purchase tickets and to learn about show times, click HERE!

Youth & Teen

Volunteer at Care for Real with their Summer Teen program and make a difference in your community! Care for Real volunteers help serve neighbors in need at their brand new Edgewater location and their site in Rogers Park. With volunteer shifts for teens 6 days a week, they aim to have opportunities that work for your busy schedule. Their teen volunteers help carry Care for Real through the busiest season, packing groceries, helping distribute food, and assisting in their clothing closet. Teens age 14+ can come on their own to volunteer, or they can come with a parent/guardian.

Sign up for an account to schedule shifts to volunteer this summer. If you already have an account, search for the word "teen" under the events listing to choose your shifts. Invite a friend to join you or meet new people at CfR! They can sign off on any required hours for school or other service learning requirements.

Summer is almost here! Make sure your kids have a wild time - register them for Lifeline's summer drama camp! We'll build magical worlds as creatures and bugs of the forest, construct creative characters, imagine new worlds, and go on theatrical adventures!

Did you know that all of Lifeline Theatre's productions begin as books? Summer campers have the opportunity to follow Lifeline's unique model and create short plays. Brigade campers (6-10 year olds) will adapt the books Du Iz Tak? and The Perfect Plan, while Theatre Intensive campers (10-13 year olds) will collaborate as an ensemble and use the book Ten Word Tiny Tales to Inspire and Unsettle as a creative jumping off point for their original play. All campers will share their original pieces on the Lifeline stage on their final day of camp! 

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.

Sincerely,

Kelly Cassidy

State Representative, 14th District



Office of State Representative Kelly Cassidy

1507 W. Morse Ave

Chicago IL 60626