Kelly's Update

I’m writing from my Springfield carpool where both of us are pretty much fried after a week of running back and forth, trying to be in multiple committee hearing rooms at the same time as we made our way to today’s deadline for House bills to get out of committee. This week traditionally is one of the most challenging of the session, especially for our staff who have to manage to keep enough members in committees they’re members of to hear bills assigned to that committee while also choreographing the movements of members who have to step out to present bills in committees that are happening concurrently and handling the movements of witnesses who are in town to support members’ bills. Everyone’s nerves are on edge and it is really easy to get frustrated. The folks who do these jobs in Springfield do not get nearly enough credit (or pay) for how intense these moments can be, but every single staff person I encountered was cheerful, reassuring, calm, and organized, even when things seemed to be about to be completely cattywhompus.

The bulk of committee action for the first half of the spring session is over, but our compressed schedule resulted in more bills than usual being passed out of committee with a promise to return with an amendment as negotiations were still ongoing for a lot of bills. We have two more session weeks before the deadline to pass bills out of the House on April 11 with an in-district week in between.

I was pleased to be able to advance eleven bills to the floor by this week’s deadline. A few of them will need to be amended as discussions continue, and a couple of them are longer term projects that could extend beyond the Third Reading deadline, but I’m pleased with how we’ve progressed so far. Here’s what made it through what we affectionately call “hell week” in Springfield:

• HB1302 - An initiative with a coalition of organizations representing survivors of gender based violence that seeks to address disparities in crime victims’ rights created by the passage of a law on Organized Retail Theft that grants substantially greater rights to corporate victims of crime than gender based violence survivors.

• HB1715 - Eliminates long dormant language that authorizes the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) to have its own police force. The Department has never taken advantage of this authorization and the bill is supported by DCFS as they believe that their mission is to find ways to keep families together whenever possible which requires a level of trust that might be impossible to achieve as a law enforcement agency rather than a provider of services designed to keep families intact.

• HB2374 - An ongoing project related to the many ways we fail to center survivors in the systems we design to help them. Last year, a report in WHERE revealed that survivors of sexual assault were frequently unable to receive appropriate care following an attack due to shortages of qualified professionals to provide medical forensic exams that include evidence collection frequently referred to as a “rape kit.” The challenges are significant for hospitals as in order to be designated as what’s known as a treatment hospital, a specially trained Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) must be available 24/7, among other requirements designed to ensure that if a survivor chooses to pursue criminal charges against an attacker, the case can be as strong as possible. If a hospital can not meet that standard, they are required to establish a connection with a treatment hospital and submit a plan to the Department of Public Health. One of the most shocking failings described in the story involved survivors who were forced to travel long distances to reach a treatment hospital, often without any support from the transfer hospital or law enforcement. In one particularly egregious case, a woman who had been drugged and raped got herself to her local hospital only to be first told by the emergency room physician that she was “too big to have been raped” and then informed that if she insisted on a rape kit, she had to travel 70 miles to that hospital’s approved transfer facility. With no offer of transport, and not feeling safe driving, she made her way back home. Several days later, she made her way to a local rape crisis center where she learned that there was a treatment hospital 15 minutes away that the hospital did not tell her about. She went to that hospital where a SANE confirmed that her injuries were consistent with sexual assault but that too much time had passed for any DNA evidence to be collected. We continue to work with the department and other stakeholders to find language to clarify parameters for how far a transfer hospital can require a survivor to travel for a forensic exam and will be amending the bill once that language is finalized. For more background information, you can read this NPR Illinois article.

• HB2584 - An initiative of the AIDS Foundation of Chicago. If passed, it will prohibit insurers regulated by the State of Illinois from imposing prior authorization rules on access to HIV prevention and treatment medications.

• HB2589 - Stems from a constituent issue where a woman was denied access to needles to inject her prescribed medication because the pharmacist decided to try and force her to get a prescription in spite of the fact that Illinois law has permitted the sale of needles and syringes without a prescription for several years. In order to maintain some level of professional discretion for pharmacists, the bill will be amended to make clear that when someone has a prescription for an injectable medication, the pharmacist must allow the patient to purchase the needles required to access their medication. Honestly, this one falls into a special category I like to call “I can’t believe we actually have to make a law about this. Why can’t people just be decent?!”

• HB3352 - An initiative of The Network Advocating to End Domestic Violence and is an attempt to begin to tackle a particularly challenging form of abuse known as coercive control. This bill is specific to coerced debt and is modeled after laws in a few different states that provide a process by which a survivor can inform a collection agency of the nature of the debt and seek relief from collection actions.

• HB3492 - An initiative of the Illinois State Police. Over the years, I have talked a good bit about the ways various criminal registries impact individuals and families without making anyone any safer. With that in mind, ISP approached me about a very small step that both reduces a barrier to compliance for those required to register and allows the Department to operate more efficiently and save money. Put simply, they are currently required to mail hard copies of notifications on specific schedules. Many registrants are unhoused or unstably housed and do not have reliable mailing addresses. By allowing the Department to use electronic communication for these notices, we can reduce wasted paper and postage while also helping to ensure that people get the communications they need in order to comply with the terms of the registry. I remain committed to more meaningful reforms that will truly make us all safer, but I appreciate the Department’s desire to find small ways to work together as we build trust and understanding.

• HB3697 - Another implementation update for the Community Emergency Services and Support Act, or CESSA, which is our mental health first responders program. CESSA represents a total sea change in how we handle emergency response to those experiencing a mental health crisis and the implementation process has been incredibly complex. Given the diversity of our state, what works in Chicago or Cook County or other densely populated areas is not necessarily the right answer for a community in far southern Illinois. I’m incredibly grateful to the countless people across the state working through the process to bring this vision to fruition and am thankful to be so close to the finish line.

• HB3702 - Another collaborative effort with the GBV advocacy community, this bill proposes sweeping changes to the ways that the Prisoner Review Board deals with survivors, whether they are before them as defendants or crime victims. This bill will likely end up becoming part of a larger package that addresses the challenges of the PRB in a more holistic fashion.

• HB3710 - An initiative of the Children's’ Advocacy Centers of Chicago (CCAC) and the Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation (CAASE). During meetings with CCAC, both my colleague Curtis Tarver and I were shocked to hear from providers how often victims are given false information during investigations. Citing a law we passed a few years ago (FIND) that prohibited law enforcement from deceiving minors during interrogations, we sought to prohibit the practice of lying to victims as well. We have gotten some questions/pushback from some law enforcement about possible unintended consequences in cases where it’s initially unclear whether someone is a victim or perpetrator, so we will be discussing potential amendments, although it’s going to be pretty hard to convince me there are legitimate circumstances where lying to someone is a best practice.

• HB3711 - Another ongoing project brought on by a failure of systems to work for survivors. It is a follow up to a series published in the Tribune outlining a persistent pattern of facilities failing to protect patients from sexual abuse by medical providers. We passed a bill last session that took a small first step by closing a loophole that allowed one particular doctor to continue abusing patients for years as his employer moved him to an off-site facility because the law was originally narrowly written to limit their responsibility to report abuse to providers who worked in the hospital itself. This bill takes a more system wide approach and reforms reporting requirements, enforcement mechanisms, penalties, and more. I am working closely with the Departments of Financial and Professional Regulation and Public Health as well as the Governor’s office as we negotiate with the professional organizations for hospitals and physicians on the best way to create clear and enforceable standards that protect and center patients and survivors while avoiding unintended consequences.

I was also pleased to support my colleague Speaker Pro Tempore Kam Buckner as he presented HB1611, The Anjanette Young Act, which was inspired by the horrific wrong raid/no knock warrant she experienced six years ago where Chicago Police Department officers held her naked at gun point after kicking in the wrong door in a low level drug raid. Ever since that day, she has been advocating for changes to the laws dictating how warrants are served in the City of Chicago with the help of Alderwoman Maria Hadden. We’ve been working behind the scenes to be ready to expand to a statewide bill after the city acted, but along with Alderwoman Hadden and Ms. Young, we decided it was time to try to get a state law passed after Ms. Young has been waiting for so long. We joined representatives from the National Association of Social Workers - IL at a press conference immediately after Ms. Young’s powerful testimony. Watch remarks from the press conference here.

Committee hearing for moving HB3697 for updates to CESSA

We have a tradition of sharing stories of remarkable women from the floor during session days in Women’s History Month and I took my turn on Friday, highlighting the groundbreaking filmmaker, philanthropist, advocate, lifelong Chicagoan, and proud trans woman Lilly Wachowski. Lilly’s work beyond the screen is as amazing and impressive as her filmmaking. See my floor comments here.

Kelly and Candace with Lilly at the rally outside the US Supreme Court as they heard arguments in the US v. Skrmetti case

Kelly recognizing Lilly from the House floor for Women's Month

The week wasn’t all work all the time though. First, I was delighted to have one of the boys join me for a few days as part of his spring break as he did a mini-internship, shadowing a lobbyist. He got to be part of a massive effort to get me to go to an event where I was surprised with a Legislator of the Year Award from ABATE, an organization dedicated to the rights and safety of motorcycle riders. I’m known for being a bit of a homebody down in Springfield, so getting me to go to an evening event is no small feat. What’s amazing is that while I got suspicious as to why so many people really wanted me to go to the ABATE Lobby Day Reception, I did not figure it out until halfway through the speech announcing my award. Well done to everyone involved. I grew up around riders and appreciate the ways ABATE has focused on issues of safety, accessibility, and sustainability. Helping build a relationship with the Green Caucus when our state started to contemplate incentives for electric vehicles and charging stations was one of the accomplishments that their Legislative Consultant, Josh Witchowski cited in awarding me the amazing leather vest that symbolizes the award. It’s also tradition to wear the vest on the floor the day after, so I had a lot of fun presenting my last six bills before the deadline wearing mine!

Kelly receiving a vest from ABATE for Representative of the Year!

Kelly attending committees in style!

With just a few session days scheduled for floor action on most of the bills, I expect some pretty long days as we try to finalize amendment language on a few of these bills. We’ll also start to see Senate bills make their way over for House action as well as a steady increase in budgeteer activity as we make our way through agency budget hearings.

Need to Know Info

Applications for our grant are starting to come in! Click here to be taken to our website to apply for yours today! If you have any questions contact our office at info@repcassidy.com.

You can find out more information and a recording of an informational webinar on the grant website www.14sbsig.org.

Join the Illinois Department of Insurance (IDOI) and your Northside elected officials on Wednesday, April 16th at 6 PM for an informative virtual seminar focused on Weather and Climate-related Property and Casualty Insurance. This seminar will provide valuable insights into common homeowners, renters, and condo insurance coverages, and highlight critical gaps that are often overlooked, such as flood, sewage backup, and earthquake protection. 

RSVP now to secure your spot. Once you RSVP, the Webex link will be sent closer to the event date.

We encourage you to attend this important seminar to gain valuable knowledge and protect your property!

Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias launched a new REAL ID Supercenter in the Loop!

Located at 191 N. Clark St., the facility offers non-appointment, walk-in services from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

The supercenter supplements the office’s existing efforts to serve the unprecedented demand for REAL IDs, largely stemming from confusion and misinformation surrounding the federally mandated requirements and enforcement date.

The Secretary of State's office is encouraging all Illinoisans to use the office’s designated multilingual “Get A REAL ID” portal on its website to determine:

1) if they need a REAL ID before the May 7 federal enforcement period begins; and

2) how to find a walk-in location or schedule an appointment near them.

If you have worked at a community-based organization that provides human services in Illinois for 2 years or more, you may be eligible for up to $15,000 in student loan repayment from the Human Services Professional Loan Repayment Program! Brought to you by Illinois Partners for Human Service, Illinois Collaboration on Youth, and Illinois Student Assistance Commission. See the image above to learn about the eligibility requirements for the program, how to apply, and what to expect from the process. Click HERE for more information.

If you have worked at a community mental health center, behavioral health center, substance use treatment facility or state operated psychiatric facility for 12 months, you may be eligible for $4K - $40K in student loan repayment from the Community Behavioral Health Professional Loan Repayment Program! In addition to advanced degrees and nursing, this program covers CADCs and people with undergraduate degrees in counseling, social work and psychology. Click HERE for more information.

If you are are currently employed as a social worker for at least 12 consecutive months by an Illinois public elementary school, an Illinois public secondary school, or a city, village, or incorporated town in the state of Illinois, excluding social workers employed by police departments. More information can be found HERE.

To apply for these programs, click HERE. The deadline is May 31st.

Illinois renters who have pending cases in eviction courts (an eviction court case number is required to apply) are now eligible to apply for up to $15,000 in emergency rental payments. These emergency rental payments can be applied to past-due rent dating back to March 2020. The funds can also pay up to $500 for court costs and up to two months of future rent payments to prevent an eviction. More information can be found at this LINK. To access non court-based rental assistance, Chicago residents should call 311 to get connected to their closest social service provider. Non-Chicago residents should call 211 and request rental assistance.

Neighborhood Shoutout

Going Away Celebration for Renee and Sandra

We wish the owners of R Public House, Renee Labrana and Sandra Carter, a happy retirement! This past Sunday the two were celebrated at a going away party held at the bar. R Public House opened in 2013 with the goal of being a community-driven pub that welcomes everyone-Renee saying this in an article from Voyage Chicago, "I think part of what my business is about is in the name. R Public House was actually the brainstorm of my customers. They wanted me to call it, Renee’s, but that’s really just not in my makeup, so they suggested R Public House, but actually pronounced Our Public House because it truly is a Public House for the neighborhood."

R Public House will continue on under the ownership of Jenni Smolinski and Paul Downs.

District Events

Join RPBA as they partner with Wintrust Bank to present a session that will help inform and prepare your small business against potential fraud.

In this workshop, business owners will learn about:

• Business Fraud
• Employee Fraud
• Vendor Fraud
• Customer Fraud
• Check Fraud
• ACH Fraud
• Documentation Fraud
• Prevention/Tips

Will be held at GROW/PROGRESANDO Entrepreneurial Training Center

7056 N. Clark St. on March 27th

For the English Session you can register HERE (11am)

Para la sesión en Español regístrate AQUI (10am)

Centro Romero (6216 N Clark St.) is hosting a free mental health clinic on March 25th at 12 pm. No RSVP is required and refreshments will be provided!

To learn more about Centro Romero, click HERE.

Emanuel Congregation is pleased to announce a new initiative: Connecting

Edgewater. Connecting Edgewater is a grant-funded community initiative for

older adults and interested residents that will offer regular opportunities to

engage in programs and activities to foster connection and enrich participants'

lives.

Connecting Edgewater's premiere event will feature Gold Coast Award winner, Carla Gordon, and national touring artist, Andy Bossov, as The Chicago Duo presenting The Song Boys ---The Music of Irving Berlin, George and Ira Gershwin, and Cole Porter. You'll enjoy some of America's favorite songs like "Embraceable You," "I've Got You Under My Skin," and "Friendship."

This event is held on March 26th, from 4pm to 6pm.

To register, click HERE.

Andersonville's InSidewalk sale returns on March 28th-30! Walk the streets of Andersonville to find amazing deals in the shops inside! And, be sure to stop by the new pop-up market at 5117 N Clark to find even more outstanding vendors!

More information about the event can be found by clicking HERE!

Chicago Therapy Collective is observing this year's Trans Day of Visibility by offering a safer space for all to share stories, learn from each other, and uplift trans voices and trans joy.

SHARE YOUR VOICE & MOVE YOUR BODY

Connect with community at Bramble Arts Loft. March 31st 4:00pm-9:00pm

5545 North Clark Street #2nd Floor Chicago, IL 60640

This in-person event will include:

4-6PM STI Testing and Community Resourcing

No cost, confidential testing from CHICAGO HOUSE. Information and resources for other community organizations onsite.

5-6:30PM - SHARE YOUR VOICE

Town Hall on the State of Trans Rights in Illinois

Join elected officials and content experts as they discuss the state of identity documents, gender affirming care, and parentage rights in Illinois. Share your voice and your questions. Submit questions for the town hall HERE.

6:30-9PM - MOVE YOUR BODY

Dance Party and Performances featuring PUTOPIA COLLECTIVE.

RSVP Here

The ARRP Community Group is hosting a FREE meeting at Third Space at Lake View Presbyterian Church (716 W Addison) on Tuesday, April 1st. This month's meeting features a presentation by Lucy Sears, the Development and Communications Manager for Green City Market. The presentation will detail how to acquire fresh farm product and support local farmers!

To learn more about the organization, click HERE.

To register for the event, email NorthsideAARPCommunitygroup@gmail.com.

Join the free art workshop series happening across the Northside of Chicago, organized by Swedish Hospital, Endeavor Health, and the Healthy Chicago Zones North Central Region!

Led by a team of professional artists, participants will explore multimedia art, community, and personal wellness. Art pieces created during these workshops will be submitted to build a community art installation. All participants will be invited to view and celebrate their work at the unveiling of this art exhibition in April!

For more information, email: sneeraja@schosp.org

Howard & Evanston Community Center is hosting a job fair on April 16th. Do you have a business that is looking to meet with some great hiring candidates? You can register to table at their hiring fair at the Willye B White Park on April 16th, from 10:00am-2:00pm by scanning the QR code above.

The Jarvis Square Artisan Market is gearing up for the 2025 markets! Are you an artisan handmaking your crafts, looking for a place to sell your wares? Email charmersartisans@gmail.com to inquire about space.

Are you looking for ways to lower stress and increase energy? We have 2 amazing Sunday Wellness Offerings for you!

Tai Chi improves blood flow, strengthens muscles, helps concentration, increases mobility and balance, calms the mind and delays growing old. Sifu’s Tai Chi sessions include stretching, breathing and meditation in motion. Sifu has been teaching in Rogers Park and the Chicago Area since 2005.

Sundays 9am to 10am

This class has a suggested donation of $15 but online registration is required. 

QiGong is an ancient practice that helps the practitioner become skillful at managing energy. Reclaiming energy from tension and stress and increasing vitality by moving your body effortlessly. Take away exercises you can practice at home to continue improving your energy and vitality.

Sundays 4:00-5:00pm

Online registration is required.

Location for both offerings:

Culture of Safety

6961 N. Clark St

Chicago, IL 60626

Theatre

The 3rd Annual Alice Gerstenberg Play Festival celebrates the work of this early 20th century Chicago playwright and pioneer of the Little Theater Movement. This festival showcases the work of local actors and the Directing Class.

March 18, 19, and 20; 7:00pm-9:00pm

Berger (Albert) Park

6205 N. Sheridan Rd.

Chicago, IL 60660

Tickets are free, but must be reserved here

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. The show has been extended due to popular demand! They have added an extra weekend of shows, and they will now be closing March 29th.

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!

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. 

Funny, Like An Abortion opens March 14th and runs through the end of March! Come check out this Chicago premiere produced by Fat Theatre Project and Chicago Danztheatre Ensemble.

Set in a future America where even saying the word “abortion” is a crime, Monroe has just discovered that she is unexpectedly and unwantedly pregnant. She invites her best friend, Jade, over for a surprise abortion party in this darkly funny, devastatingly prescient play by Rachel Bublitz. Eileen Tull directs this searing Chicago premiere, co-produced by Chicago Danztheatre and Fat Theater Project. 

The cast of Funny Like an Abortion includes Bianca Thompson (she/they, Monroe) and Saniafaith (she/her, Jade), Kit Kelly (they/them, Monroe - understudy) and Erin Feldmen (she/her, Jade - understudy). 

About our space: It is not Wheelchair accessible. There are 8 steps, a landing, and another 8 steps to the auditorium. Stage strobe lighting will be used in the production. 

Friday/Saturday/Sundays- 7:30pm

Chicago Danztheatre Ensemble

1650 W Foster Ave

Tickets Available Here

Loyola University is bringing to its Newhart Family Theater (1020 W Sheridan Rd) a production of "Legally Blonde" on Thursday, March 27th!

From Loyola's website:

Elle Woods has it all figured out- great friends, great car, great dog. When it all starts falling apart, Elle leaves behind her sunny sorority for the stuffy Harvard Law School, tackling this exclusive environment with optimism and ambition. The verdict? An inspiring and wildly entertaining take on identity and power. Based on the hit movie and filled with show-stopping songs, Legally Blonde celebrates the trials and victories of being yourself.

To purchase tickets, click HERE.

Gerber/Hart Library (6500 N Clark) is hosting a presentation of six short plays about women who refine, define, and redefine the expression “out with the old” by Violet Surprise Theatre on Friday, March 28th at 7:30 PM.

From Gerber/Hart's website:

This March, SMH will stand for Sapphics Making History, when Violet Surprise Theatre presents six short plays about women who refine, define, and redefine the expression "out with the old." Whether spotlighting women once considered yester-gay's news or reminiscing about days gone bi, Sapph-isticated Histories: Women Across Time honors the formidable fortitude of our foremothers, both factual figures from history and fictional figures of our playwrights' own creation.

When it comes to validating our voices, Violet Surprise is no shrinking violet. We believe that respectful, realistic representation is not only valuable—it's vital.

To learn more about this event, click HERE.

Youth & Teen

The Illinois Psychiatric Society is hosting the third annual Carl C. Bell, MD Memorial Award Essay Competition as a community initiative for Illinois High School students. This essay contest is open to all high school students in Illinois and submissions are due on May 15, 2025.

The award recipient will receive a $500 cash prize. Their submission will also be presented at the 2025 IPS Annual Meeting and published in “Mind Matters,” the official IPS newsletter publication and invited to their Annual Meeting in September. Second and third place award recipients will receive a $250 cash prize.

 More information and how to apply can be found on their website.

Apply Now for Your Perfect Summer Job in the Parks – for Ages 16+!

Earn a paycheck, make friends, keep active, have fun, and make a difference by working in the parks! A variety of employment opportunities are available at the Chicago Park District this summer to suit all interests, schedules, and experience levels. These positions offer competitive wages, opportunities to build life skills, flexible work schedules, and pathways to careers and year-round employment. Another plus: working indoors and outdoors, depending on the position, and having summer nights off. Positions available for Chicago residents ages 16 and older include Lifeguard, Recreation Leader (for Day Camp), and Junior Laborer (landscape maintenance). Additional positions are available for ages 18+. 

Learn more & apply now.

Job Openings

Are you a junior or senior in college who is passionate about ending mass incarceration and criminal legal reform? The Illinois Prison Project seeks a dynamic, energetic Legal Support Intern to join us for summer 2025. The Intern will provide programmatic and administrative support to the IPP team in an effort to reduce mass incarceration. This internship is ideal for students interested in pursuing careers in social work, lawyering, advocacy, etc.

Apply by April 1, 2025.

Details and application instructions can be found here.

Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias’ office is now accepting applications for its third-annual summer job program!

Approximately 150 positions are available for college, trade school, graduate school students, law students, or graduating high school students who are enrolled in college or trade school in the fall.

Available positions include working in Secretary of State offices in Chicago, surrounding suburbs, Springfield and downstate facility locations. Under the program, college and trade school students earn $17 per hour and specific contractual intern positions for graduate and law school students earn $25 per hour. Job offerings include working in one of the 25 departments in the Secretary of State’s office or at a DMV.

Interested applicants can apply at www.ilsos.gov/summerjobs and must submit a resume, application, and cover letter explaining their interest in working at the Secretary of State’s office. Please reach out to publicengagement@ilsos.gov with any questions.

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