In this newsletter
26th Ward Office Updates • Community Events • Public Notices • Job Opportunities • Resources
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Dear Neighbors,
I trust everyone is relishing the arrival of warmer days and the refreshing rain! The rain we've gotten has helped establish plants in my urban garden, and I'm eagerly anticipating my first harvest. As we begin to enjoy the fruits of warmer weather, we've opted to adjust our operating hours. Starting immediately, the office will open at 2 pm on Mondays and 9 am Tuesday through Friday, while we'll observe a lunch break closure from 1 to 2 pm everyday.
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Palenque LSNA has been a lifeline for parents and students in our neighborhoods for decades. Their work is expansive and dynamic, from supporting mothers in continuing their education, to showing up for newcomer families with clothing and food, to curating a comic book on migration experiences of Schurz High School’s Estudiantes sin Fronteras, and on Friday, opening Little Libraries at schools across the Ward. Stowe Elementary’s parent mentors organized a cute performance by the students before we joined Principal Jimmy Lugo, State Senator Omar Aquino, and State Representative Lilian Jiménez’s office to cut the ribbon of the Little Library now located on the northwest side of the school in the sitting garden. Scholars waited patiently to choose a book, demonstrating their yearn for reading! Book donations for pre-K through 8th grade reading levels, particularly books for earlier reading levels in Spanish, are welcome. Thank you Palenque LSNA!!
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You can learn more about our key takeaways from my first Subcommittee on Youth Employment subject matter hearing by clicking the image! Thank you to all the educators, mentors, and leaders who work directly with Chicago’s young people.
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Your 26th Ward Alderperson,
Jessie Fuentes
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Join me on Wednesday, May 15th, at McAuliffe Elementary located at 1841 N Springfield at 6 pm to learn about the State of the 26th Ward. Space is limited, click here to RSVP.
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New 26th Ward Office Hours
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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:
*The office will be closed everyday from 1-2pm for lunch*
- Monday 2 pm - 5 pm*
- Tuesday 9 am - 5 pm
- Wednesday 9 am - 5 pm
- Thursday 9 am - 5 pm
- Friday 9 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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Connecting Neighborhoods:From Humboldt Park to Hermosa
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Calling cyclists in the ward to please join us on May 18th as we bike ride throughout the city. All levels of biking experience are welcome to join. We will be riding from 9am-12pm.
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ALSO's 29th Annual Walk For Peace
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Join our Youth for Peace walk on Saturday, May 25th at 1pm. All ages are welcomed. If you would like to organize your school, classroom or classmates, reach out to my office at info@the26thward.org.
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Street Sweeping Started on April 1st, and will continue until November
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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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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 feed back at: the26thward.org/zoning.
- 1941 N. Sawyer Ave
- 1617 N Drake Ave
- 1354 N ArtesianAve
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Property Tax Assistance for West-Chicago Township
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If you live in the West Chicago Township and need assistance with your property taxes, call 312-603-6386 to schedule an appointment. Time slots are available from 10 am to 5 pm.
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To all my running/walking buddies! June 16th is the San Juan 5K! All proceeds go to the Tu Casa Project which will be a community center.
It is also Father’s Day, and overall a difficult time for many who have lost loved ones, so we are using this 5K as a way to remember them and celebrate their memories! We will be hanging and gathering after for those that are interested! Sign up and join my group. We have named our group/team 26th Ward Walk/Run to Remember.
Please see the team registration link by clicking here. I hope many of you can make it!
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Northside Latin Progress Community Meeting
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Join the Northside Latin Progress for their next meeting at 2415 West Armitage on May, 15th from 5:45pm - 7:30pm. Their meeting will focus on how to aid Chicago's new arrivals.
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ChiArts: Junior Curtain Call
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Are you ready for the start of summer? Wards365 is hosting Summer50 Fest on Saturday, May 18 from 10 AM to 2 PM at the United Center to make a plan for your kids and family members this summer!
Over 40 non-profit organizations and City of Chicago agencies will be set up at Summer50 Fest to showcase summer programming opportunities for youth and families including Chicago Public Schools, the Chicago Park District, Chicago Public Library, My Chi My Future and the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events.
Other organizations will be on-site to promote job and employment opportunities for Chicago teens and college students including the DNC Host Committee, Hire360, trade unions and more. Summer50 Fest will also feature several educational institutions including University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago State University, Illinois Institute of Technology and City Colleges of Chicago.
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Music House: Backyard Fest
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Music House has announced that they will be hosting the Humboldt Park Backyard Fest for a 3rd year on May 18th! Join them for a day of outdoor family and entertainment! The fest will feature live performances, a collaborative mural, art projects, yard games, and more! There is a $ 5 Suggested Donation to attend.
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Mark your calendars! Sabin Dual Language School just announced their first ever Sabin Block Party from 12PM-4PM. Sabin's Block Party will feature performances by the Jesse White Tumblers, live music, a poetry slam, crafts, games, and much more!
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The Puerto Rico Project's Shower Connect Grand Opening
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Join The Puerto Rico Project on May 18th to celebrate the grand opening of their "Shower Connect" and an evening filled with music, free food and more!
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LGBTQ+ Youth Art Competition
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The Cook County LBGTQ+ Commissioners are launching an inaugural Cook County LGBTQ+ Youth Art Competition. This competition is meant to highlight the amazing talent of our young Cook County high school and post-secondary students. The winners of the competition will be honored at our June board meeting during Pride Month.
Submissions are being accepted via the following form: https://bit.ly/CookCountyLGBTQArtContest.
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Life Impacters:Food Pantry
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LIF (Life Impacters Foundation), operates as a beacon of support and change on the vibrant greater west side of Chicago, nestled within Cook County, Illinois. LIF offers a comprehensive array of multi-social services aimed at uplifting the community.
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Puerto Rican Fest is taking place from June 6th-9th. For more information on tickets and performances please visit bit.ly/PuertoRicanFest24.
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Puerto Rican Fiesta Freestyle
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Come celebrate in community during Puerto Rican Fest on Friday, June 7th from 4-10pm. Visit Puertoricanfest.com for more information.
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ChiArts has announced their summer camp for 6-8th graders from July 8th - 26th. For more information regarding their summer camp, please email summercamp@chiarts.org.
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Free Home Energy Upgrades
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Now Open:Neighborhood Access Program
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DCASE is now accepting idea submissions for the 2024 Neighborhood Access Program. This program provides grants for all types of neighborhood-based arts and culture activities taking place in Chicago between October 1, 2024, and December 31, 2025. Individuals, nonprofit organizations, and low-profit limited liability companies may apply. The deadline to submit an idea is Friday, May 17th at 5pm Central. For eligibility criteria and other details, visit ChicagoCulturalGrants.org.
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Each year, the Jumping Jack Program delights children across Chicago. This inflatable playground, provided by the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, is available for FREE and runs from Saturday, May 25 through Sunday, September 1, 2024. Please visit their website here for more information.
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The Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability (CCPSA) has introduced 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 Councilor 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 2 bedrooms 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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Sign up to receive your trash and recycling pickup schedule and reminders (holidays, recycling events, bulky item pickup) emailed to you by using Recycle by City. Severe weather and holidays 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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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
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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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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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Obama Foundation Career Opportunities
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My Brother's Keeper Alliance Requests
- School Enrollment Data Support
The My Brother's Keeper Alliance is seeking qualifications and quotes from a Chicago-based vendor specializing in tracking and mitigating chronic absenteeism and truancy in schools. Learn more.
Additional Vender Opportunities
- Obama Presidential Center Printer of Record
The Barack Obama Foundation will release a Request For Proposal this month for a vendor experienced in producing collateral material for cultural institutions, event spaces, and/or entertainment venues. Learn more.
Job Opportunities: Interested in joining the Obama Presidential Center team? Check out the available open positions below!
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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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The Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) will host its third annual Airport Expo and Job Fair on Thursday, May 16 at the UIC Forum. The expo will connect hundreds of job seekers, contractors, and small business owners with employment and procurement opportunities available both within the department and Midway and O’Hare International Airports.
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- Chicago Department of Public Health:
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The Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability is hiring a First Deputy Director and General Counsel.
Essential duties of the First Deputy include assisting the Executive Director in the overall management and direction of the department’s operations, functions as second in charge of the department, and performs related duties as required.
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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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info@the26thward.org
(773)395-0143
Se Habla Español
Subscribe to this newsletter here.
2511 W Division Street, Chicago, IL 60622
Hours:
*Office will be closed every day from 1-2 pm for lunch*
Monday 2 pm - 7 pm | Tuesday 9 am - 5 pm
Wednesday 9 am - 5 pm | Thursday 9 am - 5 pm
Friday 9 am - 5 pm
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