I hope you had a great Earth Day! Yesterday I had the pleasure of visiting and speaking to 8th graders at Peirce Elementary School about civics, the legislative process, and what it means to be an advocate for your neighborhood. I was so inspired by their insightful questions and already budding knowledge of legislative work.

Earth Day is an annual event on April 22nd to demonstrate support for environmental protection. Since 1970, communities have come together in a variety of ways to commemorate the day. Please join either the 49th Ward or 48th Ward Aldermanic Offices today for their annual clean-up events. We only have one planet and we must do all we can to protect ourselves and our future generations so they can have a chance for a healthy and long life.

Last year I helped pass the Clean Energy Jobs Act (CEJA). The bill puts Illinois on a path to use 100 percent clean energy by the year 2050 and to be carbon-free by 2045, while providing economic opportunities in the clean energy sector.

This month of April is Islam's holy month of fasting. Our office wishes everyone a happy month of Ramadan!

Sign-ups for the Secretary of State services are now closed. You can find required documents you will need to bring for your appointment along with fee information here: bit.ly/SOS-Drive. Please bring your fee payments in the form of a money order or check.

We will be taking walk-ins on a first-come, first-serve basis between the hours of 1:00pm and 2:00pm. These spots are extremely limited.

As many are aware the former Mayne Stage Theater at 1328 W. Morse is now the Rhapsody Theater. The Mayne Stage Theater is a historic local venue that in the past has served many different types of uses that many residents have enjoyed. It most recently has been used as a wedding and events space. It has struggled in recent years to remain active. However, Dr. Rosenkranz, a physician by day and a magician by night, purchased it and has brought it back to life! The legacy of the theater will continue with live entertainment, including magic shows, cabaret, chamber music, and dance shows.

Our Rogers Park event will kick off at 10 am. The 49th Ward office will provide all of the materials necessary. No prior registration is required! Just meet at either the 49th Ward Office (1447 W Morse Ave) or at Pottawattomie Park (7340 N. Rogers Ave), and from there, you may head over to the area in the ward that you'd like to clean up. We hope you can join us! 

Saturday, April 23rd is the annual 48th Ward Clean and Green, a day where neighbors come together to clean up our shared outdoor areas. Please email alan@48thward.org for more details.

More information and registration are available on the LPAC's website by clicking here.

The Jarvis Square Artisan Market will return to Jarvis Square (Greenview and Jarvis) for another season! The market brings local arts and craft vendors to the Jarvis Square Alfresco area where they can showcase and sell their creations. The market also has live music and food for patrons to enjoy. 

Vendors who are interested in participating should email charmersartisans@gmail.com. 

Governor Pritzker has ended the state's mask mandate on public transportation a day after a federal judge in Florida overturned the U government's plan to keep restrictions in place until May 3rd. The U.S. Justice Department has appealed this federal judge's ruling. I still will encourage people to wear masks in public transportation places as we still have many immunocompromised people who have to use public transit.

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) recently announced that it will no longer report seven-day average case positivity rates. Positivity rates normally offer a glance at how quickly the virus is spreading. This was seen as critical early in the pandemic. The U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention now places more importance on case rates and hospitalizations due to having vaccines and other treatments available.

Cases are continuously increasing throughout the state. The above graph highlights the 7-day rolling average for hospital admissions. Hospitalization rates continue to remain low. For more details regarding the status of COVID in Illinois click here.

Please click here to see the status of COVID in our zip codes.

To find a vaccine clinic within the City of Chicago click here.

For questions or info regarding COVID-19 testing click here.

Statewide Totals: 3,114,036 confirmed cases, 33,568 deaths and 21,760,073 vaccines administered

Hotline: 800-889-3931

Email: dph.sick@illinois.gov

Hotline: 312-746-4835

Email: coronavirus@chicago.gov

The website is live. Constituents living in eligible zip codes can go to www.AccessCovidTests.org to order a free test kit.

The Chicago Resilient Communities Pilot is a $31.5 million dollar commitment from Mayor Lori Lightfoot and the City of Chicago’s Department of Family and Support Services as part of an effort to tackle poverty and put residents at the center of the economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. 5,000 Chicagoans will be selected through an open application and a citywide lottery to receive $500 per month for twelve months, with no strings attached. That means that there are no limitations on how the money can be spent by recipients. The Mayor believes that people living with poverty simply do not have enough money to make ends meet. Cash assistance changes that circumstance and empowers residents to decide how to best meet their financial needs and goals.

Applications go live this Monday, April 25, and close on Friday, May 13. Eligibility requirements and more information is available at chicago.gov/cashpilot.

The Illinois Homeowner Assistance Fund (ILHAF) program offers assistance to Illinois homeowners who have struggled to pay their mortgage due to the COVID-19 pandemic. ILHAF is funded through the U.S. Department of Treasury and starting today, they will begin accepting applications for grants of up to $30,000 to eliminate or reduce past-due mortgage and property tax payments.

For more information, visit the Illinois Housing Development Authority's website here.

Operating in partnership with the Community and Economic Development Association of Cook County (CEDA), who operates the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), the UBR program will utilize their expertise and extensive network of partner organizations to conduct outreach and enroll homeowners. For more information and how to apply, visit here.

This summer, the books they have chosen for their campers to adapt into plays all focus on community, inclusion, and celebrating difference. Each camp features a camper-created stage adaptation performed for families and friends on the last day of camp. For more information, visit their website.

The Protect Chicago at Home program is offering homebound residents and seniors who received their in-home vaccines earliest to schedule their booster shot appointment. To make an appointment for a visit, call 312-746-4835 or register at Protect Chicago at Home. For more information on the Chicago Booster Shot Program, visit here.

Those interested in applying should cps.edu/careers and search for "Crossing Guard" in the "Keywords" section of the job board. For further questions, you can contact Crossingguard@cps.edu.

AMOpportunities (AMO) is a Chicago-based start-up company that connects international medical students and graduates, as well as domestic DO and PA students, with U.S. physicians and institutions for clinical experiences. Job listing at AMO can be found here.