Springfield Update
This week was a challenging one personally for me. After participating in routine surveillance testing on Monday, I tested positive for COVID-19. I woke up with a scratchy throat at the beginning of the week and started experiencing more symptoms as the week progressed. I am overall doing ok. However, let this be a reminder that being vaccinated is critical as the symptoms could have been far worse. As we start to see a slow rise in cases due to the BA.2 variant I caution everyone to stay diligent about being up to date with vaccines and testing. I encourage folks to keep using quality masks such as N95 or KN95, especially in crowds. Below is a photo of what I called my "quarantine cave workstation” in my apartment in Springfield. I was able to fully participate in floor action as well as committees, passing 2 Senate bills this week addressing the needs of survivors of sexual assault and abuse.

SB3023 was sponsored in the Senate by Sen. Julie Morrison and represents the work of the SASETA (Sexual Assault Survivors Emergency Treatment Act) Task Force to adopt recommendations to improve care for survivors. This bill includes provisions related to the pilot project I sponsored to increase access to Medical Forensic Examinations for sexual assault survivors by allowing approved Federally Qualified Health Centers to provide the examinations.

SB2942 was sponsored in the Senate by Sen. Sally Turner and is an initiative of the McLean County State’s Attorney in conjunction with advocates for sexual assault survivors. It clarifies the court’s ability to remove individuals from the courtroom during sensitive testimony or evidence presentation in cases of sexual assault or abuse when the survivor was a minor at the time of the offense, regardless of the survivor’s current age. This closes a loophole State’s Attorney Knapp has seen exploited in a series of cases in his county where the survivor turns 18 before a case gets to trial and prevents the retraumatization of these young survivors.

We are scheduled to return to session Sunday afternoon where we may begin to see the results of the legislative several working groups start to move through the process. A series of public safety measures were introduced today that we’ll likely see hearings on early in the week.
Outside of my COVID-19 experience, I was honored to speak on Transgender Day of Visibility to the House chamber. To view the speech click here. I am still hurt over the death of Elise Malary and the many lives that we continue to lose in our communities. This year it seems more important than ever to acknowledge, thank, and lift up the stories of the women who have led our progress towards equality. I was honored to file a resolution that remembers Elise Malary's work.

On this last week of Women's History Month, we must remember all those that have sacrificed and continue to lead. It is impossible to contemplate women’s history and the fight for equality without including our trans sisters. I will continue to stand up and check those who wish to bash all of our women. Many states around us continue to push legislation that harm women and our trans siblings. Yesterday, I was proud that we passed HB1464 which clarifies that a doctor licensed in Illinois cannot be disciplined if another state suspends or revokes their license for participating in or performing an abortion. Similarly, I’m looking into ways we can provide support for families seeking care for their transgender kids that they can’t access in their home states. We also passed a number of resolutions that call for funding Planned Parenthood and supporting women's reproductive rights.
If you’re interested in following our work, the committee schedule, meetings, and bill assignments are posted here.
Northside Resource Day
Northside Resource Day
Secretary of State Sign-Ups
This month we are excited to be hosting our Northside Resource Day event with a multitude of other local and state officials.
The Secretary of State's Office will be offering a variety of services, listed above. You can find the registration form here: bit.ly/SOS-SignUp. You must register to reserve yourself a spot. You can find required document and fee information here: bit.ly/SOS-Drive.

Please see below for other organizations that will be in attendance.
Neighborhood Shoutouts
Artist of the Week
In honor of Youth Art Month, we are choosing an artist of the week whose artwork will be used to decorate our district office space.

Last week’s featured artist is Kelly C., a 4th grader in our district who drew an amazing art piece of a plane on a runway. This week's featured artist is Jonathan L. in 2nd grade, who drew a colorful prehistoric scene. Great work Kelly and Jonathan and thanks for making our office space brighter!

To submit your artwork for Youth Art Month, you can drop off art pieces at our office 5533 N. Broadway, Monday to Friday from 9:00am to 5:00pm. Art pieces will be returned to the artist and hung with care.
The Loyola Project
Airing Nationally on CBS Saturday
The Loyola Project, a critically acclaimed documentary about the 1963 Loyola University Chicago men's basketball team that won the NCAA championship, will air on Saturday, April 2 on CBS at noon CT. The film that airs on CBS is a one-hour version of The Loyola Project and streaming of the full-length film begins that same day on Paramount+.

Listen to an interview by WGN regarding the documentary by clicking here.
In the District
49th Ward Community Ca$h Application Open Through April 15!
The City of Chicago's 2022 approved budget included a unique opportunity for each ward to receive $100,000 in funds for microgrant opportunities. This funding is for registered non-profit organizations with the Secretary of State to provide programming and services to each ward.

To learn more on the scope of the grant and eligibility criteria, visit 49thward.org/communitycash.

To apply for funding, visit bit.ly/CommunityCash49.
Broadway Visioning Meeting on April 2nd
48th Ward Alderman Osterman will be hosting a visioning process for the future of the Broadway Avenue corridor between Ainslie Street and Devon Avenue. This will be a three-part proactive community planning process where we will work together to consider opportunities for affordable housing, economic development, roadway, sidewalks, bike lanes, public art, placemaking, environmental sustainability, and transit.

There will be two additional meetings, on April 30th and May 21.

Register in advance here.
COVID-19 Updates
Monitoring Potential Wave
COVID-19 patients in hospitals continue to decline. As of Wednesday night, the state was averaging 461 COVID-19 hospitalized patients as compared to the records set during this surge when we were averaging more than 7,300 hospitalizations. As shown in the graph above from IDPH's website hospitalizations continue to drop. Case counts are starting to tick up a little more which has caused our statewide positivity rate to bounce back up to 1.7%. It has not been that high since March 1st. Hospital admissions and death rates always lag behind the positivity case rate which is partly why an increase has not been shown in the graph above. An increase is to be expected for those categories in the coming weeks.

Chicago's public health Commissioner Dr. Arwady, expressed again that the new version of the omicron variant (BA.2) has led to an increase in COVID-19 cases. There has been a 34% increase in Chicago from the previous week according to Dr. Arwady. However, we are still well below the peak levels that we experienced this past winter.

Please click here to see the upticks in our zip codes. BA.2 has been known to spread more quickly but has not yet been shown to cause more severe symptoms. We are overall still in a good situation as a state but we must continue to remain prepared.

Being vaccinated and boosted is critical to limit the major impacts of future pandemic waves we are to face as new variants come along. Please be up to date with your vaccines and continue to test when needed. The Food & Drug Administration recently approved another COVID booster for individuals 50 and older.
To find a vaccine clinic within the City of Chicago click here.

For questions or info regarding COVID-19 testing click here.
COVID-19 Count as of Friday, March 31st:

Statewide Totals: 3,069,650 confirmed cases, 33,394 deaths and tests performed 57,392,864

If you have questions related to COVID-19 you can contact the
Illinois Department of Public Health:
Hotline: 800-889-3931
Email: dph.sick@illinois.gov

City of Chicago's Department of Public Health:
Hotline: 312-746-4835
Email: coronavirus@chicago.gov
Free PCR Testing on Wednesdays
Heartland Health Centers is offering COVID-19 PCR testing for non-patients. Results are available in 2-3 days and testing is available only by appointment on Wednesdays from 1:00 pm- 4:00 pm. To make an appointment, call 872-245-3790.
Free PCR Testing on Thursdays
IDPH Free COVID-19 Test 
The Illinois Department of Public Health is proud to be partnering with the Rockefeller Foundation to offer free COVID-19 tests to households in identified priority zip codes across the state. Eligibility is based on zip codes with the highest risk of Covid-19, using the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) combined with state data on Covid-19 burden.

The website is live. Constituents living in eligible zip codes can go to www.AccessCovidTests.org to order a free test kit.
  • Each household will receive 1 kit with five tests within one to two weeks after ordering.
  • No payment information is required — both the tests and shipping are free to eligible residents.
  • The program is currently limited to one order per residential address.
Resources
Free Tax Help Through the City of Chicago
The City of Chicago is offering free, confidential tax help, partnering with Ladder Up. Volunteer tax preparers who are trained to assist you can help complete and electronically file Federal and Illinois tax returns for 2021 and years prior in some circumstances. They also can help determine if you qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), Child Tax Credit (CTC), and other tax credits.

The tax filing deadline is Monday, April 18. For more information, visit www.taxprepchicago.org or call (312) 588-6900 to schedule an appointment.
IDES 1099-G Information
IDES has released this statement in regards to the 1099-G tax forms. For a FAQs sheet from the IDES on all your questions related to the 1099-G form, click here. For an information packet on how to navigate your ILogin account, click here.
Trilogy's New Mobile Crisis Response Service
Energy Assistance For Winter Applications Open Until May 31st 2022
The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and the Citizens Utility Board are reminding residents to apply for $200 million remaining in utility assistance under Gov. JB Pritzker’s Help Illinois Families initiative, an expansion of the Low-Income Household Energy Assistance Program under the American Rescue Plan.

This initiative remains available for all qualifying households with low income, regardless of how they may be affected COVID-19.  The last day to apply online with the Request for Services form is April 15. After that date you can still apply through your local administering agency through May 31, 2022.

To learn more and to fill out a new application, visit helpillinoisfamilies.com.
LIHEAP Utility Assistance
City Utility Assistance
Utility Billing Relief (UBR) provides low-income City of Chicago residents with a reduced rate on their water, sewer, and water-sewer tax as well as debt relief for those who demonstrate they can manage the reduced rate bills for one year. Benefits for UBR participants include:

  • A reduced rate on water, sewer, and water-sewer tax
  • No late payment penalties or debt collection activity including water shut-off
  • Debt forgiveness after successfully completing one year with no past due balance

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.
Illinois Homeowner Assistance Program
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.
Youth and Teen
Summer Camps at Neighborhood Boys and Girls Club
Neighborhood Boys and Girls Club Summer Camps will include a multitude of events, crafts, games, theme days, sports, and field trips. Each age group will have fun activities specifically geared towards entertaining them and their peers! Programs are available on a weekly or seasonal basis, with camp beginning June 15th and going through August 19th.

For more information and to register, click here.
Moran Center for Youth Advocacy's Education Advocacy Program
Be A Student Election Judge
Early Learning Programs at South-East Asia Center
Chicago Builds Application Open
11th or 12th grade students can now apply for the Chicago Builds program. While providing challenging and intentional programming, Chicago Builds’ mission is to provide students pathways to the building trades after high school. Chicago Builds serves as a model for specialized trade schools for high school students interested in working in the building trades as a post-secondary career.

For more information and how to apply, visit www.chicagobuilds.org.
Odyssey Project Applications Now Open
The Odyssey Project is an annually held academic program that offers free college courses in the humanities. These courses include literature, philosophy, art, and history. Illinois Humanities provides this opportunity through UIC and in partnership with Rebuild Foundation, The University of Chicago’s Civic Knowledge Project, the Seabury Foundation, and Northwestern University’s Alice Kaplan Institute for the Humanities.

Upon successful completion of the program, students will earn college credits in the humanities (4 credits each in HUM 110 and HUM 111) from the University of Illinois Chicago. All credits earned are fully transferable to accredited colleges and universities. Courses are available in English and Spanish. 

Qualifications to apply:
  • Be 18 years of age or older.
  • Read at an adult level. (The program involves a lot of reading, so being able to read a newspaper in English — or in Spanish for the Spanish-language course — is a good measure of reading readiness for this course.)
  • Live at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Guideline. (See the application for income guidelines here.)

Interested applicants can learn more at ILHumanities.org/Odyssey.
High School Internships with CTA
Senior Resources
2022 Illinois Senior Hall of Fame
Is there an older adult in your life who has a history of helping and inspiring others? Nominate them for induction into the Senior Illinoisan Hall of Fame! The Senior Illinoisan Hall of Fame was established by the General Assembly in 1994 to honor older adults’ accomplishments and contributions to their communities. Each year, four Illinoisans age 65 or older are inducted into the Hall of Fame for their work in community service, education, arts or the labor force.

Nominees must be:
  • At least 65 years old.
  • A current Illinois resident or a former resident who lived in Illinois for the majority of their life.
  • Posthumous nominees will also be considered.

Nominations must be submitted by June 1, 2022 to be considered. The online submission form is accessible here, or you can submit a completed nomination form via email to Purnell.Bordersiii@Illinois.gov.
Northside AARP Community Group April 5th
In-Home COVID Booster Appointments
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.
Senior Connections Program
Job Openings
SAFE Ambassadors is Hiring
CDOT is looking for outgoing advocates to work with them in helping Chicagoans envision and achieve a safe, comfortable, and healthy public transportation space through recruiting SAFE Ambassadors.
To learn more, visit here
Church of Atonement is Hiring
The Church of Atonement is looking for a Parking Lot Attendant. The parking attendant oversees the parking lot on Sunday mornings during services. Responsibilities include monitoring the lot, making sure that only people who are attending church are parking there, and holding the keys of cars that have double-parked in the lot. They are also responsible for contacting the tow company upon arrival if there are cars parked in the lot illegally. The role requires great driving abilities and the capacity to drive a variety of vehicles. A valid driver’s license is necessary.

For more information and how to apply, click here.
Sincerely,

Kelly Cassidy
State Representative, 14th District

Office of State Representative Kelly Cassidy

5533 N Broadway

Chicago IL 60640
773-784-2002(phone)
773-784-2060(fax)