I hope you’re enjoying the start of summer! I love spending time in the district and seeing so many familiar faces at neighborhood events, community meetings, and out taking advantage of the warm weather. For my team and me, this summer is off to a great start!
Last month, Governor Pritzker signed my legislation to expand our state’s cyberbullying statute into law! Students across the state deserve to have policies in place that are a reflection of the reality we live in. The new law will provide additional protections for students and families, and guidelines for schools as they navigate instances of cyberbullying. I look forward to collaborating with my colleagues on ways we can continue to keep our students safe in the months to come.
The Governor also recently signed the state budget into law. The General Assembly delivered a fiscally and socially responsible budget that prioritizes early childhood education, healthcare access, public safety, and affordable housing.
The budget also allocated funds for capital improvements in communities across the state, including a number of projects right here in the 12th district! The organizations receiving funding include the Lincoln Park Zoo, Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, LaSalle Language Academy, Old Town Art Center, and the Lincoln Park Community Center. This funding will support some of the essential organizations that make this district so special. The long-term project funding is subject to the bond authority and financial health of the state, so funding can take some time to be released.
I hope to see you all this summer at one of the many festivals, market days, or neighborhood events in our community. See you soon!
Support for New Arrivals
The 18th and 19th District Police Stations are continuing to shelter and house newly arrived migrants until space becomes available at local shelters. The biggest need at both stations is meal donations and deliveries. Please consider signing up through the provided links below if you can donate and deliver lunch or dinner on a given day/time.
Additionally, my office is still collecting dry breakfast foods, such as cereal and breakfast bars, and milk and juice that do not require refrigeration. If you are interested in supporting this effort, please consider dropping off breakfast donations at our office at 3223 N Sheffield Ave., Suite A and mention it is for the 18th District migrants.
Brewery Night with Your Elected Officials
I am co-hosting a Brewery Night with State Senator Sara Feigenholtz and Alderman Bennett Lawson on July 20th from 4 – 6 pm at Dryhop Brewers. We would love for you to stop by and grab a beer and chat with us! RSVPs for this event are preferred. Please visit the link below. Hope to see you there!
Grant Opportunity
Governor JB Pritzker recently announced the Federal Support Grant Program to help Illinois compete for additional federal funding to strengthen our businesses and communities. Illinois-based businesses and organizations seeking federal grants that align with the State’s economic development objectives are encouraged to apply through the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to have part of their match covered by state dollars. More information can be found here.
DCEO Grant Training Information Sessions
The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity is conducting information sessions and office hours designed to help entities seeking grants. The training session topics will detail the pre-qualification process, as well as other critical information. Check out the link here to sign-up for an upcoming session.
The Illinois Housing Development Authority recently announced $25 million in funding for the Illinois Homeowner Assistance Fund Home Repair Program (HAFHR) to allow eligible homeowners the ability to address home maintenance needs that were delayed or exacerbated due to the COVID-19 pandemic. HAFHR will award grants ranging from $1 million to $5 million to nonprofits and/or governmental entities. Grantees will, in turn, make home repair grants up to $60,000 per eligible homeowner. HAFHR grantees will be selected through a competitive scoring process. For more information, click 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.
In the Community:
- Wine with Your Elected Officials
The Wine with Your Elected Officials event last month with Senator Feigenholtz and Alderman Knudsen was a huge success! Thank you to everyone who came out, it was great to meet so many of you and discuss a few of the big legislative wins we had over this past session. I’m excited to connect with you again at the Brewery Night on July 20th at Dryhop Brewers.
- Old Town Art Fair Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
It was an honor to kick off the 73rd annual Old Town Art Fair alongside Senator Feigenholtz, Alderman Hopkins, and Alderman Knudsen. Special thanks to the Old Town Triangle Association and all of the artists who brought their incredible work to the neighborhood!
- Pride Parade
My office and I had a great time walking in the Chicago Pride Parade last month! I will always fight for LGBTQ+ rights and make certain that Illinois remains a safe and inclusive place for all. Thank you to my fellow House Democrats who attended the parade!
Upcoming Events:
- LCA Summer Block Party
Lincoln Central Association is hosting their annual Summer Block Party on Saturday, July 15th at noon. The party will take place on Dickens Ave in between Carnival Grocery and Gemini. Everyone is invited, so come by for food, activities, and games! I hope to see you there!
- 19th District Police Council Meeting
Stop by for the monthly 19th District Council Meeting on Tuesday, July 18th at 6:30 pm, located at Lincoln Park Presbyterian Church. The meeting will focus on community violence intervention programs operating in the city.
- 18th CPD National Night Out
Mark your calendars for Tuesday, August 1st at 6 pm to celebrate America’s Night Out Against Crime with the 18th, 12th, and 1st Chicago Police Departments! Come to 401 N Michigan Ave for games, music, food, and a fun-filled night.
PAWS Chicago Partnership:
We have a new PAWS Chicago pal to introduce for July: Meet Dunn!
Dunn is the perfect mix of fun and loving. He is already housebroken and loves belly rubs, cookies, and tennis balls. This border-collie mix already knows basic commands like sit, stay, down, and come, and training him is a blast!
If you want to make Dunn or another furry friend part of your family, visit PAWS Chicago for more information. Not ready to adopt yet? Consider fostering for a few weeks! While fostering, you’ll have full support from PAWS for medical, behavioral, and food needs. If interested, reach out to acfoster@pawschicago.org
As you’re enjoying your summer months, please remember that my office is here as a resource for you. Please don’t hesitate to reach out.
