Kelly's Update

This Friday is the deadline to advance bills out of committee. The large volume of bills introduced to kick off the 104th General Assembly presented a challenge to our bill review and Rules Committee process, so about half of the bills were not released from committee until last week. This will present significant logistical challenges as we navigate the deadline week with such a full plate of bills. Basically, we are all going to have to be in at least two places at once all week as we’ll be participating as members of committee while also having to run and present bills in other committees. Our staff perform miracles during deadlines like this, constantly monitoring which members are where in order to always maintain quorums in committees while facilitating helping members get to other committees for presentations.

Last week, I advanced a bill I’ve been working on with The AIDS Foundation of Chicago that seeks to bring us closer to the statewide goal of Getting to Zero new HIV infections. I’m very proud to partner with AFC to prohibit insurance prior authorization on HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention medications.

Over the last couple of weeks, I’ve risen to speak in response to members of the Republican Caucus who constantly seek attention as they spew lies and hatred aimed mostly at trans people and immigrant communities. I will always put myself between a bully and its intended target, so I’ve had some fiery speeches recently. But this week, after reflecting on the importance of ensuring our constituents know that we aren’t allowing their lies to go unchallenged and spending time thinking about what drives my colleagues to constantly target certain communities, I rose to give a much calmer speech. Bottom line, they’re obsessed with children’s genitals. There’s no other logical explanation. And to be clear, I don’t mean the entire Republican caucus. I specifically refer to the small handful of members who like to call themselves the Freedom Caucus, but I prefer Fearful Caucus as it is a much better description of what drives their decision making. 

In my comments on the floor, I referenced a debate the week before on the Montana House floor in which my friend, Representative Zooey Zephyr rose to oppose a bill banning drag performances in her state. Rep. Zephyr is the only trans member of her chamber and was ejected from the chamber at the end of last session for telling supporters of a ban on gender affirming care that when they bowed their heads in prayer, she hoped they would see the “blood on their hands.” She was not allowed to speak at all for the duration of session and was only allowed to vote remotely. She continued to represent her district from outside the chamber, even when hate groups flooded the chamber to occupy all of the seats so she would have to stand. Rep. Zephyr told her colleagues about the long history of drag, and its significance in many cultures, while also sharing how painful it can be to explain to her son why people say the things they do about her and their family. She was followed by a Republican colleague who talked about the Republican value of staying out of people’s personal lives and decisions and went on to talk about the things that their constituents wanted them to be debating like property tax relief and other items that aren't a waste of time and energy. See the members' full comments here. I invited my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to stop punching down and focus on our work and hope that we can do that as we get into the real guts of the session.

Rep. Cassidy's comments from the House Floor - March 11th, 2025

While I was in Springfield, the team continued to keep everything cranking along, joining with the Rogers Park Business Alliance for the first set of ribbon cuttings of the year, a new Wintrust Bank location Grand Opening opening, and a panel about School Safety with Moms Demand Action and members of the CPS Board of Education. This is in addition to being constantly on call to assist our constituents as they navigate State government whether that is to help someone access State benefits, helping to navigate the Treasurer’s Unclaimed Property system, accessing grant funds, or any number of challenges. Our team is expert at navigating challenging situations with State government, so never hesitate to reach out for assistance.

Carlos attending the RPBA 2025 First Quarter Ribbon Cutting Extravaganza for new local businesses in Rogers Park

From Rauly attending the Wintrust Bank Loyola Station Location's Grand Opening

From Taylor attending the Moms Demand/CPS Board of Education School Safety Panel

This week, I’ve gotten several bills to move, potentially as many as 12 depending on negotiations. But I’m particularly excited to welcome my friend Anjanette Young to the Judiciary Criminal Committee hearing where she’ll be testifying about the night Chicago Police Department Officers executed a no knock warrant on her home in spite of it being the wrong address. She was held naked at gun point while she insisted they were in the wrong house. Her years-long effort to ensure no one else has to endure this horror has included a still continuing effort to pass an ordinance through the Chicago City Council, but our lead sponsor Leader Kam Buckner and I agreed that we can’t wait for change to make people safer state-wide and are advancing his HB1611 that puts common sense procedures in place to prevent wrong warrants and put safety protocols in place to protect those subject to no knock warrants. To submit a witness slip for Tuesday’s hearing, use this link.

I’ll update social media this week as bills advance. Committee hearings and floor action are always live streamed. The committee hearing schedule is here. It’s important to double check the link as the week progresses as additional hearings may be scheduled. All committee and floor action is available to watch or listen to at this link.

Need to Know Info

The application for our grant is officially open! Click here to be taken to our website to apply! 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

Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi announced that property tax–saving exemptions applications for the 2024 tax year are now available online. Exemptions are savings that contribute to lowering a homeowner’s property tax bill. The most common is the Homeowner Exemption, which saves a property owner an average of $950 dollars each year.

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.

Neighborhood Shoutout

Friends of the Park announces long time Rogers Park resident Brian Gladstein as their new executive director. From their website:

Over its 50-year history, Friends of the Parks (FOTP) has championed an equitable park system for a healthy Chicago. As it prepares to celebrate this significant milestone, FOTP announces the selection of Brian Gladstein as its new executive director.  

Gladstein’s career has spanned over three decades serving in leadership roles for several non-profit organizations in Chicago and beyond. He brings extensive experience in all domains of FOTP's work--community engagement, advocacy, civic education, public policy, and environmental justice and stewardship.

District Events

The 20th District Community Council is hosting its Monthly Public Meeting on Monday, March 17th from 6pm to 7:30 pm at the Budlong Woods Library (5630 N Lincoln Ave).

No RSVP for this event is required!

Rogers Park Business Alliance (RPBA) is hosting the first Mercadito (market) of 2025! The Mercadito will be open for business on Saturday, May 3rd, 2025 from 10am to 3pm. Limited space is available. Vendors will be allowed on a first come, first served basis. The deadline to apply to be a vendor is Monday, March 17, 2025.

Apply here

The Chicago Tap Theatre is hosting a free Tap class on Tuesday, March 18th at the Loyola Park Fieldhouse (1230 W Greenleaf). Following that, you can sign up for their Spring Session that lasts for 10 weeks. They also have a shoe lobby that you can borrow from for these classes!

More information and registration can be found by clicking HERE.

The Edgewater Historical Society is beginning a new series called Third Fridays Salon at the Edgewater Historical Society Museum (5338 N Ashland Ave) from 6 to 9 pm on the third Friday of every month!

The first salon will be Friday evening, March 21 from 6-9 p.m., and they will continue on third Fridays through June. These events will feature dynamic presentations of the exhibits by our own curators. Join us for a fun evening of history, culture and community!

March 21 As Time Goes By in Edgewater (Kathy Gemperle)

April 18 Tree Survey Exhibit (John Holden, Andrea Raila)

May 16 Women Leaders in Edgewater(Tiffany Middleton)

June 20 Indigenous Edgewater (Marjorie Fritz-Birch, Les Begay)

To learn more about the Edgewater Historical Society, click HERE.

The Edgewater Chamber of Commerce is hosting its final indoor market of 2025 on Saturday, March 22 from 10 AM to 2 PM at The Broadway Armory (5917 N Broadway)! It is the last chance to stock up on produce and baked goods until the outdoor Monday Market starts in June. The full lineup of available vendors will be announced next week!

For more information, click HERE!

The 24th District Council is hosting its monthly meeting at the Rogers Park Public Library (6907 N Clark) on Sunday, March 23rd at 3 PM. This meeting is also able to be attended virtually by clicking HERE.

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."

To register, click 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.

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.

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.

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