Happy holidays! Whether you’re attending festive events, donating towards charitable causes, or spending time with friends and family inside to avoid the cold winter weather, I hope that your holiday season has been off to a great start. Please read on for upcoming events, holiday donation drives, a recap of November, and more.
Holiday Toy Drive
Our office is teaming up with other North Side elected officials for a Holiday Toy Drive for local families in need. We are collecting new, unwrapped toys to help spread love and cheer this holiday season. Donations will be accepted now through December 12th at the Chicago Fire Department Engine 78 (1052 W Waveland). Donations will also be accepted at the offices of all of the participating elected officials, including ours (3223 N Sheffield, Suite A).
In the Community
Junior League of Chicago’s LeadHERship Luncheon
It was an honor to speak on the panel for the Junior League of Chicago’s LeadHERship Luncheon. My fellow panelists and I delved into many topics related to what it means to be a transformative leader and shared stories from our own experiences. Thank you to the Junior League of Chicago for the invitation, and to Tracy Brown, Dorri McWhorter, Mona Champaneri, and Helon Hammond for the engaging conversation.
Lincoln Park Zoo Lights Opening
We joined the celebration of the opening of the Lincoln Park Zoo’s 30th annual ZooLights! This beloved holiday tradition will be open through January 5th, running from 4:30-9PM Sunday through Thursday, and 4:30-10PM on Fridays and Saturdays (closed on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Eve). For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit the Lincoln Park Zoo’s website here.
Latin School of Chicago’s Model United Nations Conference
The Latin School of Chicago hosted their student-led Model UN Conference last month, and I had the pleasure of addressing these young, aspiring leaders. It was impressive to witness these bright young people with an interest in diplomacy, and I hope that they continue to follow their passions. Special shoutout to one of Team Croke’s fantastic former interns, Andres De Marco, for his hard work on this event.
Farewell and Good Luck to our Fall Intern!
This fall, we’ve been so fortunate to have had our fantastic intern Grace on the team! Grace is a Senior at Loyola University Chicago, majoring in Communications Studies and History. We are grateful for all of her hard work and look forward to cheering her on in her future endeavors!
12th District Highlight
There are many things that give Illinois’ 12th House District its charm, but we would like to highlight the works of one artist who has left his mark on the Lincoln Park, Old Town, and Gold Coast neighborhoods. Edgar Miller spent 50 years bringing intriguing visual design to Chicago and beyond through his work as an architect, artist, craftsperson, curator, designer, and illustrator.
You may be familiar with some of Edgar Miller’s work if you have ever walked in front of the building at 1734 N Wells with its mosaic brick facade and ornately carved red door, or the unique Frank Fisher Apartments at 1209 N State.
If you would like to learn more about Edgar Miller and his work, please visit the Edgar Miller Legacy’s website here. The DePaul Art Museum currently has an exhibit on Edgar Miller, Edgar Miller: Anti-Modern, 1917-1967, which will be on display through February 23rd (more information here).
Small Business Shoutout
Our small business shoutout for December is Pyar & Co.!
“Right down to its very name, Pyar & Co. is a love story. Pyar means love in Hindi, and it was love that brought Paula Queen, the company’s founder, to India. Pyar & Co. was founded in 2011, after Queen visited India for the first time to celebrate her marriage to her new husband, Sumit, a native of India. Inspired by the luxurious fabric and intricate beading of her own wedding sari, and by the vivid colors, embellishments and intricate patterns of the saris she saw all around her in India, Queen knew she had to find a way to translate everything she loved about these pieces and bring it back to the American market. It was this inspiration that catapulted Queen from her life in business management into a life designing and producing luxury home accessories.”
If you have a favorite store, restaurant, or other business in the district for future Small Business Shoutouts, let us know!
PAWS Chicago Partnership
We have a new PAWS Chicago pal to introduce for December: meet Yuri!
Yuri has spent a long time in shelters—he’s been in PAWS care since 2023. While PAWS isn’t exactly positive of the things Yuri has had to go through, they have witnessed his strength and resilience firsthand. He’s a playful, trusting pup ready for his permanent home.
Yuri’s previous foster parent describes him as “loving, empathetic, and smart.” They note that he is always up for catch or a playful game of tug-of-war, but also loves plenty of couch time.
Yuri is easy going, and can be in a home with cats, other dogs, and young children. While he prefers to be with his people, he behaves well alone (and is housebroken!).
If you’re interested in adopting Yuri or another furry friend, visit PAWS Chicago for more information.
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 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.
Upcoming Events and Community Meetings:
44th Ward Community Open House
Alderman Bennett Lawson’s office is creating a community plan for Lakeview, and they would like your input! This plan will focus on the Clark Street commercial corridor from Newport to Wellington, including sites left vacant due to CTA construction, as well as a broader vision for the entire neighborhood. To hear more about this plan and to contribute to the conversation, please join the 44th Ward for their Community Open House on Wednesday, December 11th, at 6PM at the 19th District Police Station (850 W Addison). RSVPs can be made here.
Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability Public Meeting
The Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability (CCPSA) will host their next monthly public meeting on Thursday, December 12th, at 6:30PM at the Irish American Heritage Center (4626 N Knox). Join to hear directly from CPD Superintendent Larry Snelling, COPA Chief Administrator Andrea Kersten, and Police Board President Kylie Cooper about the priorities they’ve developed in collaboration with the Commission. To attend via Zoom, please see the link here. To submit a request for public comment, please reach out to CommunityCommissionPublicComment@CityofChicago.org.
19th Police District Council Community Gathering
The 19th Police District Council’s December meeting will take place on Saturday, December 14th, at 11AM at Third Space (716 W Addison). Attendees are asked to bring holiday cookies to share while assembling care packages for individuals in the district who are facing homelessness. To RSVP, please visit the link here.
18th Police District Council Meeting
The 18th Police District Council’s December meeting will take place on Tuesday, December 17th, at 6PM at The Moody Church (1635 N La Salle). Join to hear from the new Cook County State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke. As this meeting is expected to reach capacity, it is highly encouraged to RSVP using the link here. To attend via Zoom, please see the link here.
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.
Resources and Involvement Opportunities
Become a CASA Advocate
Looking for ways to create positive change in the upcoming new year? Consider becoming a CASA Advocate. Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Cook County is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advocating for the best interests of children in the foster care system. Every month, nearly one hundred children enter the Cook County foster care system, and only 11% currently have access to a CASA Advocate. These trained volunteers work closely with the courts, social workers, and families to provide critical support and guidance to children facing uncertain futures.
CASA of Cook County is currently accepting applications for their January/February class. Training will be held via Zoom on Thursday evenings from 6-9PM from January 9th to February 6th. For more information and to apply, please visit CASA of Cook County’s website here.
Apply for CCPSA’s Non-Citizen Advisory Council
The Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability (CCPSA) is currently accepting applications to fill multiple vacancies for two-year terms on the Noncitizen Advisory Council (NAC). The NAC is a volunteer group of Chicago residents who advise Commissioners on the public safety-related perspectives and experiences of non-citizens and new Chicagoans. Applications will be accepted through December 16th, 2024. For more information and to apply, please visit the CCPSA’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.
May this month be one of family, friends and festive celebration. As always, please reach out to my office with any questions or concerns. We’re always happy to be a resource for you. See you in 2025!
