August 2024 Newsletter

August is a big month in Chicago! With the DNC, the Chicago Air & Water Show, Lollapalooza and students returning to school, we’re looking at a busy few weeks ahead of us. The Democratic National Convention, in particular, will put our city on the world’s stage. This event, taking place from August 19 – 22, has taken an immense effort from local, state and national stakeholders who have worked tirelessly to prepare our neighborhoods for this historic moment. In this newsletter, we have detailed information to prepare you for the DNC, as well as other upcoming events, so that you can enjoy these last summer weeks.

Democratic National Convention

The Democratic National Convention (DNC) will take place from August 19th-22nd, with various events to be held throughout the city. To prepare for this historic event, the Mayor’s Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC) recommends that residents download the Chicago OEMC App for additional announcements regarding street closures, parking restrictions, reroutes, alert notifications, and more. For more information on the upcoming DNC, please visit the City of Chicago’s website here.

The United States Secret Service, along with local and state officials, collaborated to produce temporary security perimeter maps that detail where there will be vehicle and pedestrian restrictions. The McCormick Place perimeters will go into effect on August 16 at 10PM. The United Center perimeters will go into effect August 17 at 7PM.

Diaper Drive for Families in Need

Earlier this year, several media outlets reported a severe diaper and baby hygiene product shortage occurring in our city’s shelters, forcing migrant families to reuse soiled diapers on their babies. Unfortunately this shortage continues. That’s why we’re partnering with the Old Town Triangle Association and Alderman Knudsen’s office to collect diapers of all sizes and other baby hygiene products for these families and others in need.

To contribute to this drive, please visit our Amazon Wishlist to have these items delivered directly to the Old Town Triangle Center (1763 N North Park), or drop these items off at the Old Town Triangle Center, Alderman Knudsen’s office (2523 N Halsted), or our office (3223 N Sheffield).

For any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to our office at (773) 348-3974. Thank you in advance for your consideration of this donation drive to benefit our more vulnerable neighbors.

In the Community

Lincoln Central Association’s Carnival Summer Block Party

My team and I enjoyed visiting with neighbors at the Lincoln Central Association’s Carnival Grocery Summer Block Party! Big thank you to the LCA for having us, and thank you to everyone who braved the heat and came out!

Renovated Dorothy’s Playground at Oz Park Ribbon Cutting

We recently celebrated the grand opening of the new Dorothy’s Playlot at Oz Park! The original playlot was built in 1988 and found itself in desperate need of some TLC, with rotting wood and pest issues. I was proud to help secure state funding to contribute to this true private-public partnership to build a new playlot that successfully captures the spirit of the old while featuring sustainable materials and accessible features. Thank you to Alderman Knudsen, the Chicago Parks Foundation, the Chicago Parks District, the Oz Park Advisory Council, the Ishbia Family Foundation, and other Oz Park neighbors who made this project possible.

Grant Opportunities

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity is looking to assist Illinois-based businesses and organizations seeking federal grants through their Federal Grant Support Program! The state-funded grant will help Illinois compete for additional federal funding to strengthen our businesses and communities that align with the State’s economic development objectives. Eligible applicants are encouraged to apply through the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to have part of their match covered by state dollars. Applicants can apply for this program while they are preparing an application for a federal grant. More information can be found here.

The Governor, in partnership with DCEO, is providing direct relief to families across Illinois through the State’s Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). The energy bill assistance program assists eligible families with natural gas, propane, and electricity bills. Applications will be taken on a first come first serve basis through August 15, 2024, or until funds are exhausted. To learn more about this program, please visit here.

Need help navigating DCEO’s grant process? Grantees may contact the Grant Help Desk by e-mail at CEO.GrantHelp@illinois.gov or submit a question using this form.

The FY25 Creative Catalyst Grant program offers support to Illinois artists and non-profit organizations for arts-related projects, programming, events, and/or professional development. For more information on this funding opportunity, please visit here.

The Illinois Arts Council program staff are hosting their second of three drop-in sessions on Tuesday, August 6 at 12PM. This hour-long meeting will allow for participants to ask questions about this program and receive answers in real time. For more information on this meeting, please visit the Illinois Arts Council’s Workshops and Webinars page here.

Do you want to stay up-to-date on active state grant opportunities? Subscribe to Illinois NOFO Notifications to receive a weekly digest of Funding Opportunities (NOFO) offered by state agencies.

To subscribe, send a blank email (subject and body) to subscribe-omb-gata-grants@lists.illinois.gov.

State Agency Updates

Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation

Attention Licensees: a number of licenses are now in renewal! If you see your license type listed, you can renew your license now by logging into your account on the IDFPR Online Services Portal. Beat the rush and renew before your license expires to avoid paying a late fee!

Need to retrieve your username or reset your password for your online account? Check out these helpful guides on retrieving your username and resetting your password. For any other questions about the renewal process, please contact the IDFPR call center at 1-800-560-6420 for assistance.

Need help with a State Agency?

My office is happy to offer assistance! Examples of state-related programs and common constituent inquiries include:

If you are not sure who to contact regarding an issue pertaining to government affairs, my team is always happy to connect you with the appropriate resource. Please do not hesitate to reach out to us at (773) 348-8974 or via email at info@repcroke.com.

Upcoming Events and Community Meetings:

Ella Jenkins’ 100th Birthday Celebration

Join the community in celebrating Ella Jenkins’ 100th Birthday on Sunday, August 4th, from 12:30-2:30PM with music, birthday treats, giveaways, and activities for kids. A leading performer of children’s music for over fifty years, Ella Jenkins has been honored by the DuSable Museum of African American History. Affectionately named “The First Lady of the Children’s Folk Songs,” Ella was a recipient of the 2004 GRAMMY Lifetime Achievement Award and has been recognized by many other prestigious arts and culture organizations. To register for this celebration, please reserve your ticket here.

18th Police District CAPS National Night Out

The 018th and 001st Chicago Police Districts are hosting National Night Out on Tuesday, August 6, 2024 from 5-8PM in front of the iconic Chicago Theatre (175 N State)! This annual community event enhances the relationship between neighbors and law enforcement while bringing back a true sense of community. Come on out for lots of food, music, and fun!

Redefine the Drive Public Open House

The Illinois Department of Transportation and the Chicago Department of Transportation are hosting a Public Open House on Thursday, August 8th from 3-7PM at the Main Building Cafeteria at Harry S Truman College (1145 W Wilson). This event will feature staffed exhibit areas to share and discuss the analyses and proposed project features as well as an audio-visual presentation that will be shown continuously. Attendees will have the opportunity to provide written comments in-person.

If you are unable to attend, you can submit comments to the project team at info@ndlsd.org.

Northalsted Market Days

Northalsted Market Days 2024 will take place on August 10th and 11th on North Halsted from Belmont to Addison. This festival will showcase a diverse array of musical talents across multiple stages. From national artists to local bands, drag shows, and international DJs, the lineup promises something for everyone. All donations from this street festival will help to pay performers & festival workers and support non-profits like AIDS Foundation Chicago, Chicago House, Equality Illinois, Chicago Metropolitan Sports Association (CMSA), and other community programs.

18th Police District Council July Meeting

The 18th Police District Council will have its monthly meeting on August 17th at 6PM at Simpson Querrey Biomedical Research Center, Hughes Auditorium (303 E Superior). This meeting will focus on the SAFE-T Act, with guest speaker State Representative Kam Buckner, who was a primary sponsor of this legislation. 18th District Commander Michael Barz (or a representative from 18th) will also be available to answer any questions.

Chicago Parks Foundation’s Pitch in for the Parks

Pitch in for the Parks is back for its fourth summer! The Chicago Parks Foundation provides volunteer groups with supplies and support to independently host clean-ups at any of Chicago’s 600+ parks. Thanks to outstanding community enthusiasm, the effort has quickly grown, and with thousands of volunteers and hundreds of clean-up events! There are a few opportunities to participate in this effort in the district, including:

Cook County Sheriff’s Office Tracked Vehicle Partnership

The Cook County Sheriff’s office recently introduced a new program which allows the public to give consent to law enforcement to access their vehicle tracking information through the manufacturer in the event their vehicle is stolen. Access to this information will help local law enforcement immediately track and recover a stolen vehicle. If you’re interested in registering your vehicle for this program, please fill out the vehicle consent form.

Resources

Explore More Illinois: Digital Museum Passes through Chicago Public Libraries

Chicago Public Library’s museum passes are now digital and expanded across Illinois! New attractions include a wide range of museums, historical societies, zoos and more. This pass program is accessible online 24/7, with no need to visit a CPL location to check out or return a pass.

To reserve digital passes, visit CPL’s website here, log in with your library card number and PIN to see all the amazing offers from familiar and new attractions, and make your reservation online. Remember to bring confirmation of your reservation to your destination.

Plant-Based Lunches Available at Public Schools

Is your child plant-based or curious about living a more plant-based lifestyle? As of August 1st, 2023, all school districts in the State of Illinois are required to offer a plant-based school lunch option to students who submit a request to the district. For more information and the forms necessary to request plant-based lunches for your children, please visit More Plants on Plates Illinois’ website here.

Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program

Senior coupons are here! The Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) provides qualifying older adults coupons that can be used as cash to purchase fresh fruit, fresh vegetables, honey, and herbs at participating farmers markets and roadside vendors. Each qualifying older adult may receive one booklet per summer, with five (5) $10 coupons for a value of $50.

For information on program eligibility and where to obtain these coupons, please visit the Greater Chicago Food Depository’s website here.

Mental Health Mobile Crisis Response

Residents of the 19th Police District are encouraged to keep the above contact information for Mental Health Mobile Crisis Response. If you or someone you know may be struggling with a mental health crisis, please utilize these resources.

PAWS Chicago Partnership

We have a new PAWS Chicago pal to introduce for August: Meet Jordy!

Jordy is a gorgeous young pup, who’s super smart and ready to master more skills to make him into the best pup he can be. He’s very treat-motivated, so that’s going to be easy work! He is a very sweet-natured pup who loves to be in on the action, and already knows commands like “sit, stay, and down.”

Jordy is a high energy boy who really loves to work and train. He’s also very intelligent, so he’ll need both physical and mental enrichment activities to exercise his mind and body. And as he loves to be active, Jordy would make a fabulous running buddy!

If you’re interested in adopting Jordy or another furry friend, visit PAWS Chicago for more information.

I hope you and your families are enjoying these final weeks of summer! Please don’t hesitate to contact my office with any questions or concerns. We’re always happy to be a resource for you.