In this newsletter
26th Ward Office Updates • Community Events • Public Notices • Ways to get Involved • Job Opportunities • Resources
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Dear Neighbors,
Earth Day will be celebrated this Saturday, April 20 at Humboldt Park. For many years, hundreds of community members have rolled up their sleeves, put on their gloves and helped beautify the park. I have participated in the Earth Day clean-ups organized by the Humboldt Park Advisory Committee and Friends of the Park for over 20 years. I personally invite everyone reading this to join me and sign up or simply show up at the Humboldt Park Boathouse on Saturday at 9am to help spread wood chips, pick up garbage, or rake leaves.
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I am so proud to announce a new business in the ward on Paseo Boricua in Puerto Rico Town: Reina’s Cakes. For over 35 years, Reina has been making the most delicious baked goods, and after dedicating so many years to her craft, she has made her dream of going brick and mortar a reality. On Saturday, April 13, Reina held her grand opening where hundreds of community members and longtime supporters gathered for this momentous occasion. I want to congratulate Reina on this endeavor and wish her much success. Reina’s Cakes is located at 2550 W. Division and is open Wednesday - Friday 7am-1pm and Saturday and Sunday from 11am-5pm. If you stop by on a Sunday and the shop is closed, look for Reina at Humboldt Park where she will be selling her delectable cakes from her colorful carrito.
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As some of you may know, there was a shooting near North and Kedzie on Tuesday, April 9th at 3:49pm. Unfortunately, a four year old was caught in the crossfire and was shot in the abdomen.
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As soon as I became aware of the incident, I went to the scene to gather facts and support community members and first responders. My office and I quickly convened our safety committee and canvassed the area where the shooting occurred. We spoke with business owners and community members encouraging anyone with information related to the shooting to cooperate with CPD and their investigation. I’d like to give a special thank you to ALSO, PRCC, BUILD, Rincón Family Services and the many neighbors that supported the safety walk. The four year old boy has made it out of surgery and is recovering.
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April 6th marked the beginning of the Week of the Young Child and I had the honor of participating in Kimball Daycare’s read-a-loud where I shared my passion for reading and knowledge with the future generation of leaders. I want to extend a deep thank you to Director Teresa Rodríguez for extending an invitation to witness the amazing work they do first hand.
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Earlier last week, I visited the National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture where Choose Chicago hosted a special screening of The 77: A City of Neighborhoods which featured Humboldt Park. I am featured in the documentary and I had the honor of sharing my experience growing up in this community which enriched me and allowed me to flourish into the advocate I am today. A special thank you to José López from the PRCC and Choose Chicago for highlighting the resilient community that is Humboldt Park and two of the many great businesses: Papa’s Cache Sabroso and Esmeralda’s Lounge. You can view the full episode here.
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As one of ten elected officials invited by Alternative Schools Network to visit Los Angeles, I feel inspired and even more committed to building a stronger Chicago. We were able to visit Soledad Enrichment Action and Education Corps to learn about successful programs, financing, and policies for re-enrolling out-of-school youth. We capped our trip with a visit to District 1 Council member Eunisses Hernández who spoke to how her grassroots organizing lends itself to the transformative work of educating and empowering constituents. We shared stories of hope and struggle in our common challenges of supporting neighbors experiencing homelessness and newcomer migrants. These rare opportunities of being in community with organizations and elected officials who are making real change are powerful. Thank you ASN for the experience!
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Lastly, on Monday, April 22 from 6-8pm, I, along with State Representative Lilian Jiménez, will be hosting our first Housing Resource Fair. We will start with an expert panel, then offer two concurrent workshops (one for homebuyers and one for tenants) that folks will register for upon arrival. There will be housing resources for homeowners, prospective homebuyers and for renters. Cook County Commissioner Anthony Quezada’s office will also be present and helping homeowners file for exemptions. Please help us spread the word and I look forward to seeing you there.
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Thank you for reading! Stay connected for more exciting updates next week.
Your 26th Ward Alderperson,
Jessie Fuentes
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26th Ward Housing Resource Fair
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Join us for a special Housing Resource Fair coming up this Monday, April 22nd, 6pm at New Life Covenant Church, 3400 W. Division St. RSVP by scanning the QR code above or click here. This fair will feature resources for renters, homeowners, prospectives home buyers and beyond.
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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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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're Hiring Young People!
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We are hiring 15 young people ages 16-24 to work with our office during the summer. Interested in photography, government, or helping your neighbors? Apply at www.onesummerchicago.org. Make sure you choose Alternative Schools Network for the agency you want to work with. Applications are due FRIDAY, MAY 3.
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Survey: Bike Lanes on North Ave
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Complete a public survey today to share your experience with bike lanes on North Ave between Central Park Ave and California Ave!
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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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We are currently reviewing zoning change requests for the following properties. You are invited to provide feedback at: the26thward.org/zoning.
- 1941 N Sawyer Ave
- 4116 W North Ave
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National Museum Of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture Presents: Primavera
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The National Musuem Of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture is hosting a Poetry Showcase and an Open Mic Night on April 25th at 5:30 -7:30pm. For more information please visit https://nmprac.org/
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Mark your calendars we are excited to announce that Sabin Dual Language School will be hosting their first Annual Sabin Block Party from 12-4pm, on Saturday May 18th.
The Block Party will feature performances by the Jesse White Tumblers, live music, a poetry slam, crafts, games, food trucks, CFD fire truck, vendors, community celebration! Scan the code above for more information.
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Zero Landfill Material Giveaway
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Calling all artists, teachers, crafters, and more; join this event on May 4 from 10am-1pm for a FREE material giveaway. Items available include Design and Architectural samples like fabric, tile, laminate, vinyl, rubber, wallcovering, glass, wood, binders, and more!
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Seeking Affirming Care or other LGBTQ+ Resources: ALMA Chicago has you covered!
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Are you or someone you know in need of services that are culturally competent and LGBTQ+ affirming? ALMA can refer you to our direct service partners and other resources available in Chicago and beyond. Referrals include health services, housing, legal services, and more!
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Department of Housing: Green Homes Chicago
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The Department of Housing will be unveiling its upcoming pilot program, Green Homes Chicago. You can read more about the program here.
Registration will be open from 9am Monday, May 6 – 5pm Friday, May 17, 2024
You will be able to register to confirm your interest in participating in the program from 9am Monday, May 6 – 5pm Friday, May 17, 2024 at www.chicago.gov/greenhomes or by using the CHI311 mobile app.
*Residents who do not have computer access can register by calling the City's 311 service line.
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Property Tax Exemptions Now Open
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Property tax–saving exemptions applications for the 2023 tax year are now available online. Exemptions are savings that contribute to lowering a homeowner’s property tax bill. The most common is the Homeowner Exemption, which saves a property owner an average of $950 dollars each year. New homeowners, first-time applicants, or those that need to reapply can now do so online at cookcountyassessor.com/exemptions. Homeowners are strongly encouraged to apply online so there is a digital record of their application. This allows Assessor staff to easily locate the application, provide a status update, and notify the homeowner if missing documents are needed.
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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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Humboldt Condos Now Listed
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The Chicago Housing Trust has recently listed Six 2BR condos at 1508 N Harding near North and Pulaski. These condos are restricted to households making under 100% of the area median income.
Live in a beautifully renovated 100-year-old Chicago 6-flat with a huge yard, five minutes to Humboldt Park, a short bike ride to the 606/Bloomingdale Trail, and 2 blocks from the North and Pulaski bus lines.
Contact 1508nharding@gmail.com or call/text Denise Reyes at (773) 391-1960 for details. Click here to apply.
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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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Scholarship program for the 2024-2025 academic year. The CCLF will award over $200,000 scholarship dollars in the form of $5,000 scholarships to 40 qualified students from across Chicago. Scholars can apply online at ccclatinocaucus.org/about-scholarships. The deadline to apply is Friday, May 3, 2024 at 11:59pm. Eligibility:
- U.S. Citizenship is NOT required for this scholarship
- Students must be at least one-half Hispanic/Latino. Hispanic/Latino is an ethnic category, not a racial category; students may be of any race
- Applicants must be a resident of the City of Chicago
- Applicant must be a current high school senior graduating in 2024, OR a General Education Diploma (“GED”) certificate holder, OR an undergraduate student with a grade point average (GPA) of 3.0/4.0
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Residential Electronics Recycling
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See the flyer for information on drop-off locations for electronics ranging from computers and TVs to printers and game consoles.
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Vaccine and Microchip Clinics for Dogs
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Animal Care and Control is also offering Vaccine and Microchip Clinics for dogs now through July. See the dates, locations, and details above.
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Introductory Guide to City Services
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If you want to learn how to access city resources and take an active role in your community, you can download our Introductory Guide to City Services. The guide includes steps to submit an infrastructure request, host a community event, get immigration, re-entry or domestic violence support, find your elected officials, and engage with various city departments. It also provides information on how to access critical services.
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Financial Assistance for Youth Activities
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CEDA is offering financial assistance to eligible families who reside in Suburban Cook County and are looking to register their children in enrichment activities including summer camp, sports, performing arts and more. Learn more at (312) 795-8948 or visit www.cedaorg.net.
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Restore, Reinvest, & Renew Grants Now Open
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Apply now for the Restore, Reinvest, and Renew (#R3) Program! This grant will help us continue providing services such as youth development and violence prevention. Nonprofits, faith-based organizations, businesses, and other community or neighborhood associations may apply for grants individually or in a collaborative with other groups. Click here to learn more. The deadline is April 30th.
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The Chicago Public Schools Talent Office is hosting the monthly CPS Job Paraprofessional Fair in the community for positions with Chicago Public Schools on Thursday, April 18, 2024 from 10:00am - 1:00pm at St. Sabina - McMahon Hall, 1210 West 78th Place, Chicago, IL 60620. We want to encourage members of the community to apply for positions within CPS in the area in which they live at www.cps.edu/careers.
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Obama Foundation Career and Volunteer Opportunities
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Looking for a way to get involved in your community this Earth Day? The Obama Foundation will be in Jackson Park, from 10am to 12:30 pm, with our friends from the Jackson Park Conservancy, the Chicago Parks Foundation, and Emerald South on Saturday, April 20 to clean and beautify the grounds in preparation for spring. Register here to secure your spot.
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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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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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