In this newsletter
26th Ward Office Updates • Community Events • Public Notices • Ways to get Involved • Job Opportunities • Resources
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Dear Neighbors,
On March 1, I attending the opening of a new exhibit at The National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture called Arte de La Borinqueña, a collaborative exhibition featuring the work of creator Edgardo Miranda-Rodriguez. La Borinqueña, a superheroine representing Puerto Rican resilience and heritage, serves as the centerpiece, highlighting themes of history, social issues, and diversity. The exhibition aims to inspire visitors, especially young Puerto Ricans, through the character's courage and compassion. I encourage everyone reading this to check out this exhibit which runs until October 26, 2024. For further details and programming, visit the museum's website at https://nmprac.org/.
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Humboldt Park's Puerto Rico Town, alongside other Chicago cultural districts, can now apply for millions in state funds to preserve their unique cultural identities. Governor JB Pritzker introduced the program at a press conference at the National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture, emphasizing its aim to support economic development, tourism, and the preservation of historic buildings and traditions. I along with several other community leaders praised the initiative as a vital step in protecting communities from displacement and promoting cultural enterprise.
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From Block Club Chicago: Ald. Jessie Fuentes speaks as Governor JB Pritzker announces "Puerto Rico Town," and nine other areas, as state-designated cultural districts at the National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture in Humboldt Park on Feb. 26, 2024. Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club Chicago
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Last Wednesday, I visited the National Public Housing Museum to check their exhibit “Evicted” based on Matthew Desmond's Pulitzer Prize-winning book. The exhibit offers a poignant exploration of the crisis of low-income renter eviction in America. Through innovative design and compelling storytelling, visitors are immersed in the challenges faced by tenant families and confronted with the stark realities of eviction. The exhibition not only raises awareness of the issue but also inspires action by showcasing interventions and solutions implemented by local governments and nonprofits. As the exhibit travels to cities across the U.S., it aims to empower visitors to advocate for change in their communities and support those affected by chronic evictions. This is yet another exhibit that I encourage everyone experience. For more information on Evicted and the National Public Housing Museum, visit their website at https://www.nphm.org/programs/exhibits.
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My chief of Staff, Juanita García served as a judge for this year’s Union League Boys & Girls Club Junior of the Year award, and we are so proud that this year’s winner, Taliyah Johnson, is from Humboldt Park and attends Barreto’s Boys & Girls Club in the ward. Taliyah is a remarkable 6th-grade student from Moos Elementary School and a dedicated member of the Barreto Boys and Girls Club for the past six years. Throughout her time at the club, Taliyah actively participated in various activities, including the Media Club, Smart Girls, and Science Club, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Outside of her club commitments, Taliyah enjoys playing volleyball, running track, and volunteering to support her community. With aspirations to attend Lane Tech High School in the coming years and ultimately pursue a degree in Law at Harvard University, Taliyah exemplifies determination and ambition in her pursuit of academic and personal success. We congratulate Taliyah on this win and wish her all the best on all of her endeavors.
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At the very first Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) committee hearing, CTA President Dorval Carter made several promises. First, he plans to restore bus and train services to pre-pandemic levels with new schedules, thanks to strong recruitment strategies of bus and train operators. When pressed on safety, President Carter assured us that despite a recent sexual assault, crime has dropped, and he is still advocating for more security resources. I was able to use my time to address the funding that’s earmarked for people experiencing homelessness on CTA. They have only hosted one accelerated moving events (AME), and I am pushing for more to be planned. As I know in our Ward, AME’s connect neighbors with services, case workers, and most importantly, housing. I plan to hold President Dorval accountable for these promises, and I look forward to next quarter’s CTA committee hearing.
The CPS Skilled Trades Career Fair was a great soft launch for One Summer Chicago’s summer youth employment program. Over 3,000 students got to explore a variety of trades hands-on, including electrical work, construction, and healthcare. The Mayor, Alderman Mike Rodriguez, and I were able to hear from students who are involved with the Plumber Union Bridge Program. Remarkably, all 21 students who completed the program also received letters of intent to hire. It’s opportunities like these that alter the course of our young people’s lives - exposure to skills that lead to strong union jobs. As Chair of the Subcommittee on Youth Employment, I am proud of the work of DFSS’ Youth Services team for their hard work on events like these.
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I would like to give a huge shout out to ALSO, BUILD and Rincón Family Services for supporting last week’s safety walk. Our safety walks would not be possible without the support of our violence prevention organizations.
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Hope to see you at today's Community Safety Meeting at Lloyd Elementary! Park in the lot on the Shakespeare Avenue side to enter at Door 7. See the details below.
These warm final weeks of winter have been busy, yet fulfilling due to the many connections I've been able to make with you all, both in the office and at our events. I appreciate each of your calls, emails, office visits, and letters, including the letter from the young person from a local grade school who took the time to tell me about what he's learning in history class. As always, if you have questions or concerns, do not hesitate to reach out to my team at info@the26thward.org or by calling our office at 773-395-0143.
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Your 26th Ward Alderperson,
Jessie Fuentes
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26th Community Safety Town Hall
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Join us as we discuss Community Safety in the 26th Ward on Tuesday, March 12th, 6pm - 8pm at Lloyd Elementary School. RSVP at: bit.ly/safety26
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Community Safety Statement
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Coffee With Your Alderperson
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Join State Rep. Lilian Jimenez and me on Saturday, March 16th at Tasa Coffee Roasters (4136 W North ave) for free coffee and pastries from 10am - 12pm. Ask questions, share your ideas, and communicate your community concerns. RSVP at: bit.ly/26coffee
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Hate Crime Ordinance Updates
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Recent changes to the Chicago Hate Crimes Ordinance have created new protocols for reporting Hate Incidents and the removal of Hateful Graffiti. See the FAQ above.
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Your feedback is important to us. My office would like to learn more about your experiences and interactions with city departments. Please take a few minutes to complete this survey regarding your interactions with city departments. Your responses will help us improve our services and identify gaps in service. Complete the survey at:
bit.ly/cityfeedback26.
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Connect with the 26th Ward Office
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The 26th ward office is located at 2511 W. Division St. Starting this week, our office's new regular hours of operation are as follows:
- Monday 1 pm - 7 pm*
- Tuesday 10 am - 5 pm
- Wednesday 10 am - 5 pm
- Thursday 10 am - 5 pm
- Friday 10 am - 5 pm.
*Ward Night: Monday's 5 pm - 7 pm
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Ward nights are an opportunity to meet with Alderperson Fuentes to talk to her about local or city issues and they take place every Monday from 5pm - 7pm. Ward night meetings are by appointment only and on a first come, first served basis.
If you would like to meet with Alderperson Fuentes during ward night, please call or email the ward office at 773-395-0143 or info@the26thward.org.
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We are excited to inspire our young people to get involved in government and organize in the community. If you are a youth (12-24 years old) that resides in the 26th Ward and wants to have a say in how we spend infrastructure money and what type of policies I champion, please sign up for our youth council by applying at bit.ly/youth26. Stay stunned for our next meeting date.
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We are excited to announce the new 26th Ward Ambassadors program to build stronger connections with neighbors & spread the word about important resources. Join a community of neighbors ready to take action, attend educational workshops, and more. If you're interested in signing up, call our Ward Office at 773-395-0143 and ask for Juanita.
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Volunteer & Donate to Asylum Seekers
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El Árbol is a new free store in Logan Square. Visit elarbolchicago.com to arrange donation drop offs or to signup for a volunteer shift.
Donations of winter clothing and supplies for asylum seekers can also be dropped off at our office (2511 W Division St). Winter coats, blankets, winter gear and sleeping bags are especially in need.
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The 26th Ward community-driven zoning process requires that anyone requesting a zoning change must first complete a zoning intake form. Once their intake form has been reviewed they are invited to present their zoning request to the 26th Ward Zoning Advisory Committee and must answer additional questions posed by the committee. When applicable, the person requesting a zoning change may also be required to present their zoning request to the broader public during a community input meeting.
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This Father's Day experience the excitement of running (or walking) through Chicago's beautiful Humboldt Park with family, friends and your community. The race begins on June 6th in front of the 60 foot Puerto Rican Flag Landmark. You'll cross into our "Parranda" finish line as the sounds of tropical rhythms greet you and lead you into refreshing drinks & snacks con mucho sabor! If you LOVE what you're reading so far then you will LOVE the 5K San Juan Run (& Walk). Click here to sign up.
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Honoring the Life and Work of John Hagedorn
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Last October, the academic community suffered a profound loss with the passing of Dr. John Hagedorn, a distinguished scholar and social activist. In remembrance of his remarkable contributions, the Department of Criminology at DePaul University is organizing an event on April 1 from 1-4pm to celebrate the life and work of Dr. Hagedorn. To learn more and register for the event, visit the event page.
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LoSAH Center of Hope Community Conversations
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Park District Teen Opportunity Fair
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Small Business Tax Planning Workshop
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Do you have questions about federal taxes for your small business? Join the Center for Changing Lives for this 4-week series to support your small business with IRS Senior Stakeholder Liaison, Michael Mudroncik. Click here to register.
Topics include:
3/6/24: Federal Taxes and Your New Business
3/13/24: Schedule C and Other Small Business Taxes
3/20/24: Federal Taxes When Hiring Employees or Independent Contractors
3/27/24: Hiring People Who Live in the US Who Aren't Citizens
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FEMME-PRENEURS IN THE ARTS
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In partnership with After School Matters (ASM) and Clemente Community Academy, the School Matters program is located in the heart of Paseo Boricua in Humboldt Park, welcomes creative minds of young females interested in developing essential skills and knowledge in developing essential skills and knowledge in the arts via: arts production, cultural practices, event planning, cultural content creation, arts appreciation and history, arts administration and business development. From bustling arts or cultural business ides, developing authentic marketing plans to event planning and design, apprentices are encouraged to collaborate, seek wisdom within their own community, and engage in a practice of cultural literacy, wealth and advancement.
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Contact 2-1-1 for Free Tax Prep
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This tax season, 211 Metro Chicago is a point of contact for those seeking help filing their taxes. Offered through the City of Chicago and Ladder Up, residents can contact 2-1-1 to get connected to free tax preparation and find a site near them. You can also search for a nearby site by going to www.goladderup.org/locations/.
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Between January 17th - February 14th, 2024 the 26th Ward saw:
- 10 days with 0 violent crimes
- An average of 1.31 violent crimes per day
- Mondays and Sundays had the highest number of crimes
- 6 PM was the most common time
- 28 violent crime in total, including;
- 15 total robberies
- 23 assaults/batteries
- Highest number of violent crimes in one day: 5 (on January 29)
This analysis is provided by the 26th Ward Community Safety Committee.
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The Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability (CCPSA) has introduce a new and improved interactive calendar, which you can click here to access. One of the key features of this calendar is the inclusion of the yearly meeting calendar for both the Commission for Public Safety and your local District Councils. By simply visiting this website, you can find the dates, times, and locations of all scheduled meetings.
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14th Police District Council
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Join elected District Councilors every first Saturday of the month at 1pm to work for better police accountability, restorative justice, and evidence based approaches to public safety. Please sign up at bit.ly/do14news for Councillor David Orlikoff's newsletter or email David.Orlikoff@cityofchicago.org with questions.
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Add your voice to help CPD identify training priorities
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To take this voluntary and confidential survey, you can click here or use the QR code on a smart phone. The survey takes just 5 minutes to complete.
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Learn about City Contracting Opportunities
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The Department of Procurement Services provides opportunities to small, local, minorities, women, people with disabilities and veterans to ensure that the businesses that work on City contracts reflect the rich diversity of the City of Chicago. And they are now offering workshops
virtually. To register, sign-up at chicago.gov/dpsevents.
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Garbage and Recycling Reminders
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Get your trash and recycling pickup schedule and reminders (holidays, recycling events, bulky item pickup) emailed to you by using Recycle by City. Severe weather can affect the collection schedule. In the event of a delay, please leave your carts out until they have been collected. For missed pickups, please call 311.
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As part of a larger investment to accelerate an equitable adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) in northern Illinois, ComEd launched a new rebate program to increase access to EV chargers. Through the $5 million EV Charger and Installation Rebate Program, ComEd customers can receive rebates of up to $3,750 to offset the cost of purchasing and installing a Level 2 charger in their home in 2024. For more information on application requirements, and to apply, visit ComEd.com/clean.
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Ballot Initiative Info: Bring Chicago Home
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The Bring Chicago Home (BCH) initiative seeks to restructure the Real Estate Transfer Tax (RETT) to generate dedicated funds for permanent affordable housing, with voters deciding on this initiative on March 19, 2024. The proposal involves decreasing taxes for properties under $1 million and increasing them for properties exceeding $1 million. Click here to read the language on the referendum. If you have any questions, please contact our office.
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Northern Illinois Justice for Our Neighbors is a nonprofit organization that provides free high-quality legal services to low-income immigrants, engages in education and advocacy efforts and builds cross-cultural communities. They currently provide citizenship classes at the Northwest Community Church in Belmont Cragin. Once a student is ready to become a citizen, they schedule free consultations for them to complete their Applications for Naturalization with an attorney and help students apply for the Citizenship Scholarship, which covers the $725 USCIS fee. Learn more at www.nijfon.org.
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I encourage you to apply to become an election day judge in the 26th ward. We aim to fill all judge vacancies in our polling locations, to ensure a transparent and vibrant electoral experience for our community. This paid position offers a great opportunity to support our democratic process. Reach out to the 26th ward staff with any questions or to express your interest!
Office location: 2511 W Division Street, Chicago, IL 60622
Hours:
- Monday 1 pm - 5 pm*
- Tuesday 10 am - 5 pm
- Wednesday 10 am - 5 p
- Thursday 10 am - 5 pm
- Friday 10 am - 5 pm
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Las Damas de Belmont Cragin Fundraiser
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Las Damas de Belmont Cragin is a community organization focused on educating children, empowering women, and uplifting the community. This year their goal is to raise $5000 by March 8th—International Women’s Day and our theme is “Women of Impact”. Click here to support their fundraising goal.
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Support A 26th Ward High School Student
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A 26th Ward high school student who is passionate about environmental science is fundraising so she can participate in an Aquatic Ecosystems & Sustainability program in Portugal for this summer. You can support and learn more about Isabell's fundraiser here.
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Apply to be a Park District Lifeguard
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Apply Now to be a Chicago Park District Summer Lifeguard!
Complete three easy steps: (1) Apply (2) Take the swim test (3) Get hired. Get a $50 Amazon gift card for taking the test, and $400 for completing the training. Must be a Chicago resident age 16 or older by July 1, 2024. Enjoy a summer job in the parks! Apply now at chicagoparkdistrict.com/lifeguards/CPS.
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Erie Family Health Centers makes healthcare more accessible and affordable for everyone in our community, and they’re inviting people to join their mission-driven team. Check out these opportunities to work as a Medical Assistant or Patient Access Representative.
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Apply to be a Home Care Aide at Casa Central. Training is provided and there is a $500 sign-on bonus. Learn more at casacentral.org/careers.
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School to Work Program for Young Adults
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Bridges is a program that assists young adults in Chicago with job readiness, work maturity skills, job search, interviewing skills, entry level job placement, retention, and follow‐up. For more information go to bridgestowork.org.
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Career Opportunities with the City
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New Program Connects Landlords and Vacant Apartments To Folks In Need
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Chicago Rents is a program that connects landlords to tenants through multiple housing subsidy programs, allowing property partners to receive guaranteed rent, fill vacant units, and access individualized support. Chicago Rents is a program that was created in response to COVID-19 to centralize property partner relationships across multiple housing programs. Through Chicago Rents, property partners are connected with Chicagoans in need of housing, filling unit vacancies and making a real difference in Chicago's neighborhoods. For additional information, please visit: allchicago.org/chicagorents.
If you are a landlord interested in joining the Chicago Rents program, you can click here to apply.
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If you know someone looking for reproductive justice resources in Chicago, they can go to this Department of Public Health resource page to use the City’s digital community resource directory. There is also a free talkline (1-888-493-0092) where operators are available to share information on various reproductive justice options.
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