In this newsletter
26th Ward Office Updates • Community Events • Public Notices • Job Opportunities • Resources
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Dear neighbor,
Last week was truly one for the books, filled with milestones, celebrations, and vibrant displays of our rich culture and pride. I had the immense pleasure of witnessing so many wonderful moments that embody the spirit of the 26th Ward.
From joyous graduations to the spirited Puerto Rican People's Parade, my heart swelled with pride seeing our community come together in such meaningful ways. A heartfelt thank you goes out to Funston, Lowell, Moos, Stowe, and Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos High School for inviting me to your beautiful graduation ceremonies. It was an honor to celebrate the achievements of our bright young minds. I also extend my gratitude to Mayor Brandon Johnson and his administration for hosting a memorable Puerto Rican Heritage luncheon to kick off our four-day celebration. It was a fantastic start to a weekend filled with unity and joy.
A particularly inspiring highlight was celebrating Francisca Paquita Morales' 107th birthday at Plaza Taíno. Witnessing her strength and fortitude is a profound reminder to live life to the fullest and cherish every moment.
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Looking ahead, I am thrilled to announce that tomorrow I will host my first Business Summit. This event will bring together various city agencies to provide a wealth of resources to our small business owners. If you haven't RSVP'd yet, you can do so by clicking here. Check out the program below for more details!
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And on Sunday, I will be running the San Juan 5K in Humboldt Park in honor of my father, Ernesto Álvarez. If you haven't registered yet, you can do so by clicking here. Be sure to use code "26thWard" at checkout for a $5 discount!
Our community continues to thrive and grow, and I am incredibly proud to serve the amazing residents of the 26th Ward. Let's keep celebrating, supporting, and inspiring one another every day.
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I also want to assure everyone that I hear your concerns about the tent encampment in Humboldt Park. Since taking office, I have been tirelessly advocating for dignified housing solutions and will not rest until everyone in need of shelter is housed. Next Monday, I will host a pop-up Ward Night at San Lucas Church, located at 2914 W. North Ave. The primary focus will be to address the growing concerns regarding the tent encampment. I invite you all to attend and receive updates on my advocacy efforts. Additionally, if you have other concerns you'd like to discuss, please plan on attending.
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With pride and gratitude,
Alderperson Jessie Fuentes
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The 26th Ward office is located at 2511 W. Division St. Our office's 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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26th Ward Business Summit
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Join me tomorrow for a 26th Ward Business Summit at the Segundo Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center. Educational workshops and resources will be offered on a range of topics including funding opportunities, marketing and branding strategies, and city permits and licensing.
If you are a business owner in the 26th Ward, you can sign up here.
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Join me this Sunday, 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! Use discount code "26thWard" for $5 off at check out.
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Join the Call for a New Non-Congregate Shelter in Humboldt Park!
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As the Alderperson of the 26th ward, it is imperative that we seek compassionate solutions for the issues that affect all residents of the 26th Ward, including our unhoused neighbors in Humboldt Park.
Non-congregate shelters offer safer, more dignified living conditions than congregate shelters by providing individual rooms that grant privacy and dignity to individuals experiencing homelessness.
By establishing a non-congregate shelter in Humboldt Park, we can address immediate needs while working towards long-term solutions for affordable housing and housing stability. Let's come together as a community to support this initiative and ensure that all residents have access to safe shelter. Add you name to this petition if you want the City of Chicago to invest in a non-congregate shelter in Humboldt Park.
To sign the petition, please click here.
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Earn Free College Credits
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Illinois Humanities' Odyssey Project/Proyecto Odisea is a FREE COLLEGE PROGRAM FOR CREDIT tailored specifically for adults in Chicago who have not had (or have had limited) access to higher education and live at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. They need not be documented or have a GED. Please note the deadline to apply is June 15th! For more information on how to register please click here.
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Street Sweeping Started on April 1st, and will continue until November
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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.
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You are invited to attend a public meeting concerning a request to lift a liquor moratorium for a business located at 3017 W Armitage
Ave. This meeting is an opportunity for you to share your thoughts and ask questions so that community input is centered in decision-making. RSVP now by clicking here.
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Project Vida's Latiné/X Health Summit
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Project Vida is hosting a Latino Health Summit with the Chicago Department of Public Health. This will be a fun and informative experience for the LGBTQ community. They are partnering with over 15 local organizations to provide resources for our underserved communities. For more information please click here.
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Summer Film Club at Clemente
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Join a Summer Film Club at Clemente Community Academy. For more information please click here.
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Culinary Club Club at Clemente
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Join a culinary club at Clemente Community Academy with Chef Pérez. Learn about food styling, photography, and online portfolios. For more information please click here.
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New Life Centers: Beloved Community Bash
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New Life Center is hosting a series of Community Bashes! Stop by for free food, resources music and fun activities for the youth!
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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 CONCERT Presented by Chicago a cappella on Thursday, July 11 at 7:30 pm at the Humboldt Park Boathouse. Bring your lawn chairs! Chicago a capella returns to Humboldt Park neighborhood for a performance featuring selections from our History of Harmony program with nature as their backdrop.
You can learn more about the event and CAC here.
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Casa Central is hosting its 2024 Health Fair on Thursday, June 27th from 2-6pm, at the Casa Central Fisher Family Community Center at 1335 N. California Ave. Attendance at the Health Fair is free and open to the public.
An array of organizations will be present to provide information about their health-related services. Plus — They hiring! Job seekers are encouraged to attend to learn about career opportunities and fill out applications.
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Chicago City Key Appointments Now Open!
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Beware of Rogue Tow Trucks
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Be aware of "Rogue Towing," which is when unsolicited tow trucks arrive at accident scenes and rush you into signing a form that requires thousands of dollars in payment to retrieve your vehicle. For more information please read the graphic above or click here.
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City Grants Open for Manufacturers
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TIFWorks Manufacturing Program is available in the Northwest Industrial Corridor. TIFWorks is actively accepting applications from manufacturers looking to train current employees and/or new hires. Manufacturing companies in the Northwest Industrial and Pulaski Industrial TIFs can apply.
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Small Business Advocacy Council: We Rise Grant Program
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This program identifies small businesses that wish to expand into brick-and-mortar spaces in one of the following neighborhoods: Auburn Gresham, Austin, Back of the Yards, Englewood, Gage Park, North Lawndale, South Lawndale, South Shore, Washington Park, and West Lawn.
The We Rise Grant Program will be providing eligible businesses coaching and educational services. They also work to connect businesses with the owners of vacant commercial properties, and provide funds these businesses can use to facilitate their transition into vacant properties. For more information about the program please reach out too Natalia Borowska at natalia@sbacil.org.
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There are far too many vacant commercial properties in disinvested neighborhoods. The goal of the Small Business Advocacy Council is to support property owners struggling to fill their commercial spaces by connecting them with potential tenants with the knowledge and resources to transition into a brick-and-mortar space.
This program will:
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Identify small businesses that wish to expand into brick-and-mortar spaces
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Provide eligible businesses coaching and educational services.
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Connect businesses with the owners of vacant commercial properties.
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Provide funds these businesses can use to facilitate their transition into vacant properties.
To learn more reach out to the Small Business Advocacy Council at (312) 548-8608 or email Natalia at natalia@sbacil.org.
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Chicago Treasurer's Office 2024 Empowerment Scholarship
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The Chicago Treasurer's office has launched their 2024 Empowerment 5,000 Scholarship! Learn more by clicking the image above or visiting their website.
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Trees provide numerous health benefits and can help our communities be more resilient to the impact of climate events and reduce greenhouse gasses, one of the leading causes of climate change. Join communities around the city and request a free parkway tree in front or your home.
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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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Make this the Year: Homebuying 101 workshop
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Connecting Capital and Community (3C) partners will convene housing counseling agencies, realtors, lenders, and developers to provide you with vital resources will be partnering with the Department of Housing and Urban Development and Chicago Public Library on Saturday, June 15th, from 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. at Legler Regional Library (115 S. Pulaski Road).
This is a free, in-person workshop, attendees will learn about the purchase process, schedule appointments with counseling agencies, and gain more insight into the down payment and closing cost assistance programs that are still available. To register please click here.
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Humboldt Condo Now Listed
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The Chicago Housing Trust still has one 2 bedroom condo 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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Don't Let a Tick Make You Sick!
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If you find a tick, don't panic! IDPH has released an infographic to demonstrate the proper protocol for removing ticks from oneself, family, friend, and even your furry friends. To learn more about tick prevention and removal and other pest control information please visit IDPH Site here.
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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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CPS is hosting a job fair June 13th from 10-1pm. For more information please click here.
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Obama Foundation Career Opportunities
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Landis Hardtech Development Fellowship
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Are you a woman, Black, or Latine HardTech entrepreneur, product development specialist, or engineering contractor looking to freelance in the gig economy? Apply for this fellowship to access a pipeline of paid contractor work and get access to $6M worth of prototyping equipment, workshops, and a potential pipeline of paid contract work. Learn more here.
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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 Office of Emergency Management & Communication is hiring a Traffic Aide. You can learn more about the position here.
You can also explore the latest job openings with the City of Chicago. Visit www.chicago.gov/careers to discover your next career move today!
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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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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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