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As we head into the Thanksgiving week, I’m looking forward to getting quality time with Candace and the kids (those who are here for Thanksgiving anyway) and making a whole lot of messes in the kitchen, some of which we’ll be sharing in The Love Fridge before we head off to celebrate with friends. Thanksgiving, with its focus on coming together and food traditions (sometimes competing ones!) is just about my favorite holiday. However you spend this week, we hope you find rest and meaning in the holiday. There are plenty of opportunities for community gatherings and volunteer needs, and we’ve tried to pull together a good sample for this newsletter.
I spent last week at an international convening of reproductive justice policy experts and leaders. The goal of the conference was to take lessons from countries where movements for meaningful policy change in reproductive and gender affirming care have been successful, seek collaboration on policy and strategy, and connect more directly with the folks most impacted by harmful policies. I am incredibly grateful for these opportunities to learn, grow, and build connections with others in the movement.
Sticking with the gratitude theme, I was recently named one of the top ten most effective legislators in the Illinois General Assembly by the Center for Effective Lawmaking (CEL). The rankings were released in October, but I got busy and forgot about it until I was contacted by WBEZ asking for my reaction to the ranking and thoughts on the work of policy making. I am grateful for the recognition, but as I shared with the reporter, I feel most strongly that the work of building a policy agenda has to begin with solid constituent service because if you’re paying close attention to the needs your constituents bring to you, you can also find policy solutions that don’t just fix that constituent’s problem, but prevent others from experiencing the same thing. Sometimes these are big sweeping policy changes in landmark legislation, but sometimes they’re a change to the way an agency interacts on an issue or a tweak to an administrative rule. And they’re all the bread and butter of this work. I’m grateful to have learned that lesson early while working in then Sen. John Cullerton’s office. And I’m endlessly grateful to represent a district that brings interesting issues to our office to try and solve. We don’t always get there, but we do keep trying.
As I make my way around the district and see friends and neighbors sporting their whistles, I’m thankful that so many of us love our city so fiercely. While we had a few days of relative calm, folks stayed vigilant and have responded to the recent uptick in ICE activity in our neighborhoods. While I was in DC last week, this was the thing I was asked about most regularly. Everyone wanted to know about whistle parties, organizing plans, and how folks on the ground were feeling. I was proud of our city describing school drop off/pick up patrols, and all the moving parts involved in how our city worked to slow the cruel gears of the ICE/CBP surge machine. In travels earlier in the occupation/surge, it was jarring how little people not directly engaged with Chicago knew about what was really happening at home. I was in Florida in the days immediately after the helicopter raid on the building in South Shore and there was no awareness at all that a military raid had just been carried out in an American city where toddlers were zip tied outside in their pajamas in the middle of the night. Most of the folks I encountered had realized how soon this was coming to their towns and were actively gathering information to prepare and organize at home. Those conversations filled me with hope, and I’m carrying those colleagues with me as they prepare for what we’ve so recently experienced.
Back to Thanksgiving. I have a friend who I won’t name who tries to start a war every year by posting “Mashed potatoes have no place on the Thanksgiving table.” I honestly have no idea how he started doing this or when, I just know that every year, I take the bait along with countless other friends who weigh in for or against the delicious fluffy gravy delivery device of my dreams. Truth be told, I tend to be an “anything goes on the Thanksgiving table” type, with mashed potatoes sharing space with macaroni and cheese, dressing, and a sweet potato dish to be named later. And if someone coming to dinner has a really obscure family tradition dish they want to bring (or want me to take a swing at making), so much the better. You can’t make me eat Jan’s mom’s jello mold salad though. I have to draw a line somewhere. What about you?
What’s your absolute must have on the table and what’s the over your dead body item for Thanksgiving dinner?
| | Office Closure for Thanksgiving | | Our office will be closing early on Wednesday, November 26th and will be closed all day Thursday, November 27th and Friday, November 28th. If you need to contact us, please reach out to our main inbox at info@repcassidy.com and we will respond when we are back in the office. | | Thank you so much to everyone in the 14th District! Because of you we were able to collect around 100 coats for our neighbors this winter as well as numerous hats, scarves, and gloves! Thank you so much to R Public House and Women and Children First for partnering with us and being drop off locations! And a special thanks to Water Reclamation Commissioner Patricia Theresa Flynn and her office for reaching out about donating coats! | | Mobile DMV + City Key Event | | |
Our office is excited to share that we are partnering with Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias and Chicago City Clerk Anna M. Valencia to host a Mobile DMV + City Key event!
On Wednesday, December 10th from 10:00am-2:00pm both offices will be available for appointments at 1507 W Morse in our office space.
Attendees will be able to apply for or renew IL State or Real IDs, renew driver's licenses, and get vehicle registration stickers from the Secretary of State’s office. You will also have the opportunity to get a City Key, a handy identification card that doubles as a library card and Ventra card from the City Clerk’s office!
This has always been a very popular event and each office requires an appointment. Please reach out to District Office Manager Rauly Luna by email at rauly@repcassidy.com or by phone at (773) 784 2002 to schedule an appointment.
Click here to see a list of necessary documents for Mobile DMV.
Click here to see a list of necessary documents for City Key.
*Our previous newsletter had the time listed as starting at 11:00am, we apologize for the confusion.
| | Food Resources and Donations | | While we wait for SNAP benefits to be dispersed, please see above for a list of food resources in the district. You can also check the Greater Chicago Food Depository's website to see a larger list of city wide food banks. | | State Sen. Mike Simmons Mutual Aid Food Drive | | Senator Simmons’ office is accepting donations of non-perishable food, reusable grocery bags, new toiletries/diapers/cleaning supplies. Drop off donations Monday-Friday from 10am-3pm at 1040 W Bryn Mawr. For questions, email senatormikesimmons@gmail.com or call 773-769-1717. | |
Another way to help this holiday season is to donate your time. Please follow the links below to see how to sign up to volunteer for one of our local food banks:
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ILSOS John Lewis Youth Leadership Award
*Nomination Deadline Extended*
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The Illinois Secretary of State has announced its third year of the John Lewis Youth Leadership Award. This award was created by the National Association of Secretaries of State following U.S. Congressman John Lewis' death in 2021 to encourage young people ages 18 to 25 to demonstrate civic engagement in the spirit of the late U.S. Congressman.
The 2025 award process and application details can be found here.
The deadline for completed submissions for the John Lewis Youth Leadership Award has been extended to Monday, December 1.
Email to jlyouthaward@ilsos.gov.
| | Electric Vehicle Charging Grants and Purchase Rebates | | |
The CEJA EV Charging Round 3 will open for grant applications on Monday, November 17, 2025, at 9:00am. This Round 3 funds public Level 2 and Level 3 fast charging across Illinois and is estimated to be $20 million. Funding will be on a first come, first served basis. For more information and to review the application materials before that time, see the grants submission portal here
Also, the EV Rebate Program opened on October 28, 2025. Money is still available. Please see any additional updates on the EV Rebate program webpage.
| | World AIDS Day Celebration and Tribute | | December 1st is World Aids Day! The Chicago Park Foundation, in partnership with Center on Halsted, is hosting a community gathering with memories, tributes, and celebration. The event will take place at 11:30am in the AIDS Garden Chicago, on the lakefront south of Belmont at the Keith Haring Sculpture. No RSVP is required! | | CTA Holiday Train & Holiday Bus Schedule Released | | |
It's the most wonderful time of the year! Chicago's most unique and beloved holiday tradition is here: The Allstate CTA Holiday Fleet. Now in its 34th year of operation, the CTA is excited to be delivering holiday cheer throughout Chicago's neighborhoods and welcome you aboard their decked-out and dazzling Allstate CTA Holiday Train and the popular Allstate CTA Holiday Bus!
You can view the schedule here to see when the Holiday Bus & Train are near you!
| | Support Local Businesses & Our Rogers Park Corridor Walk! | | |
Last week, our office was thrilled to accompany Chicago City Clerk Anna M. Valencia for the City Clerk's "Shopping in Solidarity" Corridor Walk in Rogers Park! We encourage everyone to shop local all year long, but especially during the holiday season and in our vulnerable communities. A huge shoutout to all of the local Rogers Park businesses we visited:
From Left to Right by Column:
Taylor, our Chief of Staff, holding a plate of treats from Panaderia Ayutla;
The aisles of Supermercado Casa Roman;
Group photos in Dulceria La Fiesta, with dozens of handmade piñatas;
A piñata at El Famous Burrito;
Alderwoman Hadden's staff at Panaderia Ayutla;
City Clerk Anna M. Valencia speaking to the group of the importance of small business shopping!
| | Live Love Shop Rogers Park has started! | | |
Support your favorite local businesses this holiday season! Now through December 31, 2025, collect receipts from at least four independently-owned Rogers Park businesses and earn up to $75 back.
This year, it is starting three weeks earlier to help local shops thrive and yes, your Small Business Saturday and Mercadito purchases count toward your rebate!
Don’t wait! Shop early, save your receipts and get rewarded for supporting the vibrant Rogers Park community.
Click here for more information.
| | Season's Greetings Card Signing & Social Gathering | | |
Come meet up at the Edgewater Library on Saturday, November 29th from 2:00pm-4:00pm to sign holiday cards that will be distributed to residents in nursing homes, assisted living, and rehabilitation facilities in Andersonville, Uptown, Edgewater, and Rogers Park. These cards and personal notes mean a lot to recipients who may not receive any other holiday card this year. Light refreshments will be served. In partnership with Edgewater Village Chicago.
Registration not required, but encouraged.
| | Guest Chefs Wanted at H.O.M.E. | | |
H.O.M.E. is searching for guest chefs! Cook and serve a meal (with dessert, if possible) for 10- 16 seniors and join dinner. You can either bring food that you have already prepared, cook it from scratch or bring purchased meals. The essential is that the seniors have something nice to eat for dinner. They like hearty dishes, preferably with meat, and they love chocolate.
You don't need to clean up afterwards. When the seniors have left the table, you are done and can pat yourself on the back and are free to leave or engage in conversations! But most of all have fun! Enjoy and benefit from your time with the seniors. If you need financial assistance, H.O.M.E. can provide ingredients.
Pat Crowley House
1537 W Rosemont Ave
Saturdays and Sundays
4:30 pm
Nathalie Salmon House
7820 N Sheridan Rd
Saturdays and Sundays
5:00 pm
| | Andersonville Small Business Saturday Weekend | | Andersonville celebrates the 16th annual Small Business Saturday movement with special offers from participating businesses November 28 – 30. The Chamber will host holiday pop-up vendors at 5706 N Clark St. all weekend long. For a current list of businesses, deals and discounts, visit the Small Business Saturday page-deals & promotions added daily! | | Love Rogers Park Small Business Welcome Station | | |
Start your Small Business Saturday in Rogers Park!
Stop by the Welcome Station for:
- Free coffee, hot chocolate, and pastries from Alexander’s
- A free tote bag filled with local goodies + business specials
- Live music by Becca Jaffe
- Photos with a 3-D snow globe
- Spin-the-Wheel prizes worth up to $100 from local businesses
Then explore exclusive specials and events at Rogers Park favorites all day long.
LIVE LOVE SHOP - Save your receipts to get cash back through RPBA. More information here.
Saturday, Nov 29 10am-1pm
Alexander’s Restaurant
6764 N. Sheridan Rd
| | Vivent Health + TPAN Tea Room's Thanksgiving Dinner | | |
What is the Tea Room? A safe, welcoming space for young adults to relax, connect, and access support. Celebrate gratitude, connection, and community this Thanksgiving, Tea Room style! LGBTQ+ Young Adults & Allies (aged 18–29) are invited to join Vivent Health + TPAN for music, food, drinks, fun activities, and goody bags!
Tuesday, November 25 from 4 PM to 6 PM
The Tea Room at 5537 N Broadway Ave, Chicago, IL 60640
Registration is required. Please RSVP by November 21st.
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Imagine a visit with Jane Austen, one of the most beloved and intriguing novelists of the 19th century. Jane's visit is from the autumn of 1815 – during the most vibrant and hopeful time of her life. Her first three novels, Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice and Mansfield Park are published, and Emma is complete.
Drawing from letters, juvenilia, and novels, this historical performance by actress Debra Ann Miller delves into Jane’s writing, personal life, and the loves and losses that shaped and informed her perception of the world.
A Q&A will follow the free presentation, which is suitable for those who are unfamiliar with her novels, casual readers of them, and the most devoted “Janeites.”
Sunday, November 30th
3:00pm-4:00pm
Edgewater Branch
6000 N. Broadway
| | Andersonville Holiday Tree Lighting | | |
You are invited to the Andersonville Holiday Tree Lighting! Join the Andersonville Chamber of Commerce at 5344 N Clark, between US Bank and The Clark, for a festive evening filled with holiday magic. Enjoy a visit from Santa, joyful carolers, and hot chocolate and candy canes to keep you warm and spirited as neighbors and friends gather!
Sunday, November 30
5344 N Clark
5:00 PM - 6:00 PM
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Join the Friends of the Edgewater Library for a celebration of winter by making your own wreath. They will supply the décor, you supply the imagination! Registration required, call the branch at 312-742-1945 or visit our events page.
Saturday December 6th at 10:00am
Edgewater Branch
6000 N. Broadway
| | Shop Jarvis Square Holiday Market | | Jarvis Square, the historic commercial district in Chicago’s Rogers Park neighborhood, announced the return of its beloved holiday tradition: the 17th Annual Shop Jarvis Square Holiday Market. The one-day-only event will take place on Saturday, December 6, 2025, from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM, bringing together over 40 local artisans, festive food, and family-friendly entertainment. | | Loyola Park Advisory Council Meeting! | | |
Join the Loyola Park Advisory Council for their next meeting on Monday, December 8. At this meeting, they’ll be selecting the theme for the 2026 Artists of the Wall (AOTW) festival.
You can cast your vote for the next theme here.
Your ideas and input are an important part of shaping this beloved community event, and they’d love to have you there as they discuss options and make the final choice.
Meeting Details
📅 Monday, December 8
🕒 6:30- 7:30PM
📍 Loyola Park Fieldhouse, 1230 W. Greenleaf
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Join the Berger Park Advisory Council for some fun this winter. Bring your voices, bring your instruments, bring your cookies, and bring your friends to sing together at Cocoa Cookies & Carols!
The Berger Park Cultural Center
6205 N Sheridan Road
December 13th from 11am-1pm
December 17th from 6:30pm-8:30pm
| | Berger Park Monday Solo Series | | Enjoy two hour long solo performances from local creatives, comics, and performers at Berger Park, 6205 N. Sheridan.. There will be a short intermission between shows. You can learn more here. | | Theatre Above the Law Presents Black Comedy, a Farce by Peter Shafer | | |
Theatre Above the Law presents Black Comedy, a farce by Peter Schafer.
Struggling sculptor Brindsley Miller and his fiancé Carol are having a party with the aim of impressing Carol's bombastic father, Colonel Melkett, and millionaire Georg Bamberger. They hope the two men might purchase some of Brindsley's sculptures. Without permission, they have borrowed the furniture of their fussy neighbor, Harold, to make their own flat more presentable. Just before the guests arrive, the main fuse blows, plunging the flat into darkness. What follows is a frantic romp with unexpected visitors, mistaken identities, and surprises lurking in every dark corner. Only we, the audience, can see the action that ensues in the dark. As you might expect, the results are chaotic, disastrous and downright hysterical.
STARTS THIS WEEK!
Jarvis Square Theater
1439 W. Jarvis
November 21-December 21.
Tickets can be purchased here.
| | American Job Center at Truman College | | |
Visit an American Job Center to access employment resources, information about job training and more. Each center has knowledgeable staff that provides 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
| | The Chicago Fire Department is Hiring Paramedics | | |
Are you ready to make a difference in your community? The Chicago Fire Department is hiring licensed Paramedics/EMT-Ps to join their team of dedicated professionals saving lives every day.
Starting Salary: $74,626 (effective 1/1/2026)
Application Deadline: 11:59 PM CT on December 2, 2025
Requirements:
• Illinois Paramedic/EMT-P or pending IDPH license
• Valid U.S. driver’s license
• Attach all required documents at the time of application
Apply today and answer the call to serve!
Scan the QR code or visit this link for details.
| | Greater West Town Vocational Classes | | |
Greater West Town will start new vocational classes December 1st for
Shipping & Receiving Training, and Wood Products Manufacturing Training.
Both classes run for 12 weeks and are free to income-eligible participants.
Illinois residents who are 18 years old or over and low-income eligible can train at no cost. For decades these programs have successfully equipped community residents with technical, in-demand skills and placed them in jobs in their industries with decent wages. The courses include basic math and reading skills, lifting the academic proficiency of students; as well as career readiness classes to aid participants in a successful job search. Job placement and transportation assistance are included.
To sign up and learn more visit their website here.
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It’s that time again, Illinois! IDOT is hiring 1,600+ temporary Winter Highway Maintainers across the state for the 2025–2026 snow and ice season. Help maintain and repair roads, bridges, and more — and keep Illinois moving safely this winter.
Requirements:
✔️ HS diploma or equivalent
✔️ CDL B with N or X (Class A by year 3)
✔️ 1 year clean driving record
You can apply here!
| | Compassionate caretakers wanted! Join Misericordia, Heart of Mercy and be part of a community where every day is about connection and empowerment. As a Direct Support Professional, you’ll work with residents with disabilities, helping them achieve goals and thrive. If you’re seeking purpose-filled work, click here to learn more and get started. | | |
Sincerely,
Kelly Cassidy
State Representative, 14th District
Office of State Representative Kelly Cassidy
1507 W. Morse Ave
Chicago IL 60626
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773-784-2002 (phone)
Info@repcassidy.com
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