I know this week has been incredibly difficult and emotional for many of us. As your State Representative, I will spend this upcoming legislative session focused on continuing to protect our rights in Illinois while working to pass a balanced budget that works for my constituents in the 12th District and beyond. Please read on for information on upcoming events, a recap of the last month, and other resources. For any questions or if my office can be of assistance, please do not hesitate to reach out via email at info@repcroke.com or via telephone at (773) 348-8974.
In the Community
Principal for a Day at LaSalle Language Academy and Alcott College Prep
I recently had the opportunity to shadow Principal Rowland of LaSalle Language Academy and Principal Barbara Karrel of Alcott College Prep through the Illinois Principal Association’s Principal for a Day program! It was such a pleasure to meet and visit with such dedicated educators, staff, and students.
Speaking with Francis W. Parker Students
This month, I had the pleasure of speaking with two groups of Francis W. Parker students about the importance of government and democracy. I spoke with Mr. Bigelow’s high school class about how to effectively communicate with your elected officials, and the 3rd grade Girl Scout troop was eager to share their ideas for saving the rainforests. I always enjoy speaking with students and encouraging them to be active citizens in our community.
Loyola University Chicago’s Inside Government Internship Fair
My team took a trip up north to Loyola University Chicago’s Lake Shore Campus to attend Loyola Inside Government’s fall internship fair! We thoroughly enjoyed meeting students interested in public service and speaking with them on our legislative priorities, the services our office provides, and the communities that make up the 12th District.
44th Ward and 43rd Ward Shred Events
Team Croke joined both Alderman Bennett Lawson and Alderman Timmy Knudsen for their Fall Paper Shredding events! Thank you to everyone who came by each event, and thank you to Midway Shredding, R4 Services, Newtech E Recycling, and the Cook County Sheriff’s Office for servicing these two events!
Property Tax Appeals Outreach Workshop
My team joined Cook County Commissioner Samantha Steele’s office for their Lakeview Township Property Tax Appeals Outreach Workshop. Commissioner Steele’s office, in collaboration with Commissioner Gainer’s office, assisted more than 75 community members by helping make the property tax appeal process more accessible and understandable. To review the presentation given by the Board of Review, District 2, please see here.
After School Matters Ceremony
I had the honor of attending the groundbreaking ceremony for After School Matters’ new facility in the 12th District! After School Matters is a nonprofit organization that serves over 19,000 teens across Chicago each year with paid opportunities to develop their talents while gaining critical skills for work, college, and beyond. When it officially opens in Fall 2025, this new facility will serve around 1,500 students with its programming. For more information on the important work that After School Matters does to serve our city’s youth, please visit their website here.
Fourth Annual Pumpkin Giveaway & Canned Food Drive
Thank you to everyone who participated in our Pumpkin Giveaway and Canned Food Drive at Lincoln Central Association’s Howler at Bauler! We collected over 130 canned goods and other non-perishable items for Nourishing Hope food pantry. We loved seeing the community come together to help others in need while celebrating Halloween!
Legislative Highlight
During the Spring legislative session, I championed HB4175 to ban corporal punishment in private schools, making this practice illegal in all accredited Illinois schools. These actions have no place in any of our schools, and it is my hope that this legislation will help make all Illinois’ schools places where children can feel safe, learn, and grow.
Grant Opportunities
The Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security (IEMA-OHS) was notified by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) on October 28, 2024, of the FY 2024 Urban Area Nonprofit Security Grant Program National Security Supplemental (NSGP-NSS-UASI). This grant program will provide a total of $105 million nationally to eligible 501(c)(3) organizations who are deemed at high-risk of a potential terrorist attack and are located in one of the FY 2024 UASI-eligible urban areas. The designated urban area for Illinois is Cook County.
IEMA-OHS will issue competitive grants up to $200,000 to applicants that are approved by the Grants Program Directorate/FEMA for security enhancements activities. These security enhancements can include the purchase or installation of security equipment on real property (including buildings and improvements) owned or leased by the non-profit organization, as well as through contracted security personnel. Security enhancements must be for the location(s) that the nonprofit occupies at the time of the application, and the projects must be fully completed during the three-year performance period.
Complete applications from eligible nonprofit organizations must be submitted no later than 5:00PM CDT on Wednesday, December 18, 2024.
To learn more about this funding opportunity, eligible applicants should visit the IEMA-OHS website and download the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). For questions on the application process, please visit IEMA-OHS’s website here or email ema.ittf.grants@illinois.gov.
The Illinois Arts Council (IAC) is pleased to announce the release of the Creative Accelerator Fund (CAF). As part of IAC’s Bold New Changes, the Creative Accelerator Fund provides crucial support to artists with a goal of strengthening the creative workforce that composes a significant portion of Illinois’ economic activity. By investing in artists’ practice and professional growth, the fund not only enriches the lives of artists but also encourages broader community engagement and investment.
The Creative Accelerator Fund (CAF) will provide 130 artists with a flexible $10,000 taxable award. IAC anticipates a large response to this application and will determine recipients by randomized selection. Each IAC region has its own allocation, and recipients will be selected from the applications submitted in that region. The deadline to apply is Wednesday, November 20, 2024.
To be eligible, individual artists must demonstrate an active and sustained practice, be age 21 or older, be established as an Illinois resident and not currently enrolled full-time at a college or university in any undergraduate, graduate, or doctoral program. All applications must be submitted via the applicant’s IAC Salesforce account.
IAC staff will conduct one Creative Accelerator Fund webinar on Friday, October 4th at noon to discuss the application process, and three “Drop-In” sessions. For more information, please visit the Creative Accelerator Fund webpage for details. For questions, please contact your Regional Program Director.
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.
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.
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.
The Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) is happy to announce the reopening of the Illinois Court-Based Rental Assistance Program (CBRAP) that provides financial assistance to renters currently in eviction court. CBRAP is designed to ensure vulnerable and underserved communities continue to have a vital safety net to help prevent homelessness.
CBRAP will provide up to $15,000 in emergency rental assistance to households currently going through the eviction court process due to non-payment of rent. Program funds can be applied to past due rent, up to $500 for court costs, and up to two months’ future rent. Approved grant payments are made directly to the landlord, on behalf of the tenant, and the landlord must agree to dismiss the eviction proceedings. This ensures that the tenant can remain safely housed as they regain their financial footing. This rental assistance does not need to be repaid. Other eligibility requirements for CBRAP assistance include that the rental unit must be in Illinois and the household must earn at or below 80 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI). For this round of CBRAP, households are only eligible for assistance once and cannot reapply for funding after receiving an initial payment. Eligible tenants and landlords can start an application online here. Additional information about CBRAP can be found here.
Governmental Updates
Concession Opportunities with Chicago Park District
The Chicago Parks District has opened its Notice of Application for new concession opportunities for 2025, which presents substantial opportunity for small businesses. Chicago’s parks are home to more than 200 concessionaires who provide unique dining, shopping, and recreational opportunities throughout the city. Whether it be a sit down meal, a quick snack, renting a bike or casual shopping, these vendors make Chicago’s parks and beaches a great experience.
For more information and to apply, please visit UCG Associates, INC’s website here. The Chicago Parks District will host informational Zoom meetings for those who are interested in applying. The next meeting will take place on Tuesday, November 12th from 6-7PM. To attend this meeting, please visit the Zoom link here.
Illinois Secretary of State
The Illinois Secretary of State’s office is now accepting applications for the 2024 John Lewis Youth Leadership Award (JLYLA)! The award honors the impact of the extraordinary accomplishments of Congressman John Lewis. The Illinois Secretary of State and NASS are seeking nominations for young Illinoisans ages 18-25 who have demonstrated outstanding leadership skills and a strong commitment to civic engagement. To share this opportunity and for more information, please visit the Secretary of State’s website here.
The deadline for completed submissions is Monday, November 11, 2024, at 5:00PM by email to jlyouthaward@ilsos.gov. Call (312) 814-1148 with questions or for more information.
Illinois State Treasurer
The office of State Treasurer Michael Frerichs has done great work to return unclaimed property, or ICASH, to thousands of Illininoians through the Enhanced Money Match Program. This program is a joint effort between the General Assembly, Department of Revenue, State Board of Elections, Secretary of State’s office, and Treasurer’s office to find accurate mailing addresses for owners of unclaimed property and bypass the claim process to return funds directly to their owners.
Last month, their office will notify nearly 139,000 people that there is a check for them in the mail, and all they have to do is open the mail and cash this check to reclaim money that is rightfully theirs. If you receive one of these letters from the Treasurer’s office and have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to my office or visit the Treasurer’s website linked here.
Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
IDFPR has expanded its pilot program by 10 additional license types to support those interested in reactivating their professional licenses with information online. If you or someone you know is interested in reinstating or restoring one of the above license types, please check out the requirements for reactivation at IDFPR’s website here.
IDFPR and the Illinois Attorney General issued a warning about a new scam which takes advantage of student loan uncertainty. For legitimate student loan assistance, please contact your loan servicer or the Department of Education. If you believe you’ve been affected by a scam, please contact the Illinois Attorney General’s Helpline at 1-800-455-2456.
IDFPR will begin its transition from paper applications to an electronic licensing solution, the Comprehensive Online Regulatory Environment (CORE). CORE will feature a streamlined review process for license applications received by IDFPR, providing a better experience for end users and greater efficiency for the Department. In addition, CORE will notify prospective licensees electronically when applications are received, reviewed, and granted. This six phase process is expected to be completed within the next two years.
Need help with a State Agency?
My office is happy to offer assistance! Examples of state-related programs and common constituent inquiries include:
- The State Treasurer’s I-Cash Program
- The Department of Aging
- The Department of Human Services
- SNAP
- The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
- The Department of Employment Security
- Consumer Complaints
- The Department of Veterans Affairs
- The Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
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:
18th Police District CAPS Public Safety & Awareness Meeting
The 18th District CAPS office is hosting a meeting on public safety and awareness. This meeting will be held on Tuesday, November 12th at 11:30AM at the Near North Chicago Public Library (310 W Division). For any questions, please contact the 18th District CAPS office at (312) 742-5778.
19th Police District Council
Join the 19th Police District Council for their November meeting. This meeting will be focused on their preliminary analysis of 911 Calls for Service made in the 19th District over the last three and a half years, and how this data could lead to public safety improvements. The meeting will take place at DePaul College Prep’s Corboy Hall (3300 N Campbell) on Wednesday, November 20th, at 6:30PM. To RSVP, please visit the link here.
Saint Teresa’s 9th Annual Turkey Trot
Saint Teresa is hosting their 9th Annual Turkey Trot! Runners, joggers, and walkers of all abilities are welcome to join in on this fun Thanksgiving morning activity. The trot will take place on Thursday, November 28th starting at 7AM at the Parish Center (1950 N Kenmore). For more information and to RSVP, please email Mark Buciak at markbuciak.qcc@rcn.com.
Wildcat Den Playgroup
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Academy’s Wildcat Den offers a playspace for families with infants and toddlers! Young children and their caregivers can join in on the fun on Fridays from 8:30-10:30AM for toys, community, and fun featuring a tumbling activity provided by My Gym Mobile! No reservation needed, but a $5 donation is suggested to help cover the cost of materials and programming.
Cook County Sheriff’s Office Tracked Vehicle Partnership
This Cook County Sheriff’s office program 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
19th Police District Council Office Hours
The 19th Police District Council has announced that they will be hosting regular monthly office hours. These office hours will be hosted on the first Wednesday of the month from 12-1PM, second Tuesday from 7:30-8:30PM, third Monday from 9-10AM, and 4th Thursday from 2:30-3:30PM. To sign up for these office hours, please contact 19thDistrictCouncil@gmail.com. For more information on the 19th Police District Council, please visit their website here.
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.
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 November: meet Zahir!
Zahir is a ‘move-in-ready,’ sweet pup who’s set to become your very best friend! She is housetrained, does great at home, and is totally fine with being left alone. She loves people, knows commands such as ‘Sit,’ ‘Stay’, ‘Shake,’ ‘Paw,’ and ‘Drop.’ She also prides herself in being a fetch master who will throw the ball to herself to catch when you need a break!
Zahir has lived with cats and is happy to have a kitty sibling or two, and she will patiently wait for them to accept her. Her fosters have described her as a lovely, affectionate, easy-going girl who also likes being active.
If you’re interested in adopting Zahir or another furry friend, visit PAWS Chicago for more information.
May this month be one of family, friends and giving thanks. As always, please reach out to my office with any questions or concerns. We’re always happy to be a resource for you.
