Happy October! With the excitement of changing leaves and cooler temperatures comes the reminder to get you and your family vaccinated for the flu and COVID-19. Please see below for Chicago Department of Public Health immunization clinics happening near the 12th District.
- 44th Ward Vaccination Clinic
Tuesday, October 15th from 10AM-2PM
Merlo Branch, Chicago Public Library
644 W Belmont Ave, Chicago, IL
- 2nd Ward Vaccination Clinic
Monday, October 21st from 9AM-12:30PM
Lake Shore Fieldhouse
808 N Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL
- 43rd Ward Vaccination Clinic
Friday, November 1st from 10AM-2PM
43rd Ward Office
2523 N Halsted St, Chicago, IL
These clinics are able to provide vaccinations for children and adults at no out-of-pocket cost. For more information on these and other clinics happening throughout the city, visit the Chicago Department of Public Health’s website here.
Fourth Annual Pumpkin Giveaway/Canned Food Drive Event
My office is hosting our fourth annual Pumpkin Giveaway/Canned Food Drive! Join us at Lincoln Central Association’s annual neighborhood Halloween party, Howler at Bauler, on October 26th from 3-5PM at Bauler Park (501 W Wisconsin). This family-friendly event includes a costume parade, face painting, a bouncy house, and if you bring a canned good to donate, you can receive a free pumpkin! All proceeds will go to Nourishing Hope food pantry. I hope to see you there!
Diaper Drive for Families in Need
I’m thrilled to report that we collected over 165 boxes of diapers and 68 boxes of baby wipes in our diaper and baby wipe drive with the Old Town Triangle Association and Alderman Timmy Knudsen’s office! These baby hygiene products will go to aid families residing in our city’s shelters. Thank you to everyone who contributed. I am proud to represent a community that cares so much for our more vulnerable neighbors. Your generosity means more than you know.
In the Community
LEAD Program Announcement
This month, I had the honor of attending Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias’s announcement of the new Lifesaving Education and Awareness on Donation (LEAD) program at our very own Walter Payton College Prep. This program will allow students to volunteer as “ambassadors” to educate our communities on the importance of organ and tissue donation. These student ambassadors will be eligible for service-credit hours that can fulfill volunteering requirements at some schools and honor programs. For more information on the LEAD program, please visit the Secretary of State’s Life Goes On Organ Tissue Donor Program site here.
44th Ward Senior Picnic
My team had the privilege of helping out with Alderman Bennett Lawson’s annual senior picnic! It was so fun to watch the raffle drawing, serve food, enjoy live entertainment, and visit with so many seniors. Thank you to everyone who attended, and we hope to see you around the district!
Illinois Senate Democrats’ Sound of the State Podcast
Senator Cristina Castro and I spoke about the passage of SB0773, our bill to protect and expand IVF access, on Illinois Senate Democrats’ Sound of the State Podcast. Listen here.
Lincoln Central Association Evening in the Garden
Team Croke joined the Lincoln Central Association for their Evening in the Garden event to celebrate the close of summer, the garden harvest, and the many achievements of the volunteers who work to make our neighborhood parks such special gathering places. Thank you for having us, and we look forward to future seasons of success for the LCA!
IDFPR Professional Licensing Event
Our IDFPR “On the Spot” Professional Licensing event with Senator Sara Feigenholtz, Representative Ann Williams, and the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation was a huge success! We were able to serve over 70 individuals seeking professional licensure. Thank you to the IDFPR team for providing on-the-spot support to applicants. To learn more about IDFPR’s On the Road event series, please visit their website here.
Illinois Farm Bureau ACTIVATOR Friend of Agriculture Award
Thank you to the Cook County Farm Bureau for presenting me with the Illinois Farm Bureau ACTIVATOR Friend of Agriculture Award. Though District 12 may seem far from rural, the importance of agriculture to Cook County and the State of Illinois is not lost on me. It is an honor to receive this award and I look forward to continuing to support one of our state’s most vital industries.
Lives in the Balance Panel Discussion
I had the honor of joining fellow state legislators Representative Sharon Toniko Santos of Washington and Representative Marco Erickson of Idaho in a virtual panel discussion during Lives in the Balance’s 2024 Children’s Mental Health Advocacy Conference to speak of our efforts to protect children from corporal punishment in our states’ schools. I am proud that my bill to ban corporal punishment in private schools, HB4175, is now law, and it is my sincere hope that other states will follow our example in passing legislation to keep children safe from physical and emotional harm in school environments. You can watch our discussion here.
Grant Opportunities
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.
On September 20th, President Joe Biden declared a major disaster for Cook County (including the City of Chicago) due to the severe storms, tornados, and derecho damage from July 13-16, 2024. This declaration means that residents impacted by these storms will be eligible for Federal individual financial assistance through FEMA, as well as other programs offered by the U.S. Small Business Administration.
Residents and business owners who sustained losses in the designated areas can immediately begin applying for assistance: (1) at www.disasterassistance.gov; (2) by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362); or (3) by using the FEMA App. (Anyone using a relay service, such as video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, can give FEMA the number for that service).
When applying, residents should be aware of the following:
- Make sure you have contacted your insurance company first.
- You can still apply if you are underinsured or have no insurance.
- Keep and save all your documentation, including receipts of any repairs due to damage.
For more information, please visit the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s website here.
Governmental Updates
Secretary of State
Beginning September 23rd, DMV Facilities open a half an hour earlier to better accommodate constituent needs. Most Illinois DMV locations will now be open to customers Mon – Fri from 7:30AM to 5PM with appointments still required for some services.To verify facility hours, please visit the Secretary of State’s website here.
The Secretary of State’s office announced that the Illinois Flag Commission will accept public submissions for a new state flag design now through October 18th! The Illinois Flag Commission was established in 2023 to evaluate if a new state flag would better represent the state’s diversity of urban, suburban, and rural communities and inspire renewed state pride amongst Illinoisans. Those interested in submitting designs can do so online or via mail. For any questions, please visit the Flag Commission’s website linked above, or contact ilflagcommission@ilsos.gov.
Illinois Council on Women and Girls
The Illinois Council on Women and Girls is currently accepting nominations for the Girls Committee. Female-identifying or nonbinary high schoolers on this committee will have the opportunity to collaborate with Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton to share their perspectives on critical issues facing young women in Illinois. If you know of a young woman who would be interested in this opportunity or would like additional information, please visit the Illinois State Board of Education’s website here. Nominations are due by 11:59PM on Oct. 20.
Chicago Department of Aviation’s ORDer Up Request for Proposals (RFP)
The Chicago Department of Aviation has announced one of the largest bundles of concessions opportunities ever offered by a United States Airport: ORDerUp. The Request for Proposals covers a vast majority of the concessions spaces in O’Hare Terminals 1 and 3. Nearly 74 million passengers traveled through O’Hare in 2023, and O’Hare needs sustainable infrastructure, efficient technology, attractive amenities and modern concessions to remain competitive in the 21st century. Small business owners and local entrepreneurs are encouraged to visit ORDerUp’s website here to learn more about the available concessions spaces, best practices in creating a proposal, certification acquisition, and the overall RFP process.
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
18th District CAPS Shred Event
The 18th District CAPS office will be hosting a paper shredding, electronic recycling, and prescription drug drop off event on Thursday, October 10th, from 1-5PM in the 18th Police District Parking lot (1160 N Larrabee). Please enter the lot from the Hobbie Street entrance. For any questions about this event, please call (312) 742-5778 or email caps18district@chicagopolice.org.
44th Ward Shred
Alderman Lawson’s fall shred event will be held on Saturday, October 19th from 9AM-12PM outside of the 44th Ward office (3223 N Sheffield). Residents are limited to recycling only two boxes or containers per household.
43rd Ward Shred Event
Alderman Knudsen’s fall paper shredding, electronics recycling, and prescription drug take back event will be held on Sunday, October 20th from 10AM-1PM at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum (2430 N Cannon Dr).
18th Police District Council October Meeting
Join the 18th Police District Council for their October meeting, focusing on updates on major public safety issues. 2nd Ward Alderman Brian Hopkins, Chair of the City Council Committee on Public Safety, will be the guest speaker. 18th District Commander Michael Barz or a representative from the 18th District will also be in attendance to answer any questions. This meeting will take place on Tuesday, October 22nd at 6PM with the location to be announced shortly.
To RSVP for in-person, see here. To RSVP to attend via Zoom, see here.
Lincoln Park Spooktacular
Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce’s Lincoln Park Spooktacular is back for a full weekend of trick or treating! Families are welcome to trick-or-treat into businesses on Lincoln Avenue from Webster to Diversey on Saturday, October 26th, from 1-4PM. Be sure to stop by Lincoln Commons (2335 N Lincoln) for a special Halloween celebration! The festivities will continue on Sunday, October 27th, on Clark Street from Armitage to Diversey and on Diversey from Lakeview to Orchard from 1-4PM.
St. Teresa of Avila Blood Drive
St. Teresa of Avila is hosting their Fall Blood Drive. Make an appointment or simply stop by the Parish Center (1950 N Kenmore) on Sunday, October 27th from 7:30AM-2:30PM to give the gift of blood and save lives. To make an appointment, please visit Versiti’s website here.
18th District CAPS Older Adult Subcommittee Meeting
The 18th District CAPS office is hosting an Older Adult Subcommittee Zoom meeting on October 28th at 10AM. Senior citizens are encouraged to join to learn about upcoming events and resources. To join, please use the Zoom 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.
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
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.
New Legislation Expands Tax Credits for Illinois Businesses
A new law in Illinois increases the tax credit for businesses hiring formerly incarcerated individuals from 5% to 15% of qualified wages, raising the cap from $1,500 to $7,500. These incentives aim to help businesses provide job training and support while reintegrating these individuals into the workforce.
This program will bolster the Illinois economy, reduce recidivism by 62% through stable employment, and enhance public safety. With $1,000,000 allocated to this initiative, businesses should explore this opportunity to strengthen their teams and make a lasting impact. Spread the word and learn more 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 September: meet Coconut!
Coconut is a loving, sweet and gentle girl who loves spending time relaxing with her humans. She much prefers the company of humans to dogs and hopes her people understand that she wants to soak up all their attention!
Are you looking for a sweet, gentle and lovable canine friend? Do you live in a low dog traffic, quiet neighborhood and have the patience to work on some training? Coconut might be your girl!
If you’re interested in adopting Coconut or another furry friend, visit PAWS Chicago for more information.
Wishing you a happy October! Please don’t hesitate to contact my office with any questions or concerns. We’re always happy to be a resource for you.
