Black Lives Matter Movement Resources
Earlier this week our team participated in the rally via car that took place at Willye B. White Center. The turn out was great and I would encourage anyone who participated on foot to follow CDC guidelines and self quarantine for 14 days and/or get tested after at least 7 days after being in close proximity with so many other people. The energy and enthusiasm at the march was great and we have to remember to keep that same momentum for change up as we continue working together to create effective policy change at all levels of government. My office has put together a list of resources below. Some of these organizations are looking for volunteers, monetary donations or can also be used as a resource to learn more about the movement. We have also included a list of locally black owned businesses that could use our support while we continue to move slowly towards full reopening. While we recognize that this list is not an exhaustive list of all the great organizations doing good work around our city, we did want to take this opportunity to highlight a few. We will continue to do our best to share resources as we come across them. Continue to send me your policy recommendations as I work with my colleagues in the Legislative Black Caucus to craft policy to bring meaningful and sustainable change.
For those who aren’t inclined to participate in protests or direct action, or for whom that is too risky, here are other ways to engage and be supportive.
 
Local Black Owned Businesses

City of Chicago Organizations (to learn more click below)
  • Assata's Daughters is a Black-woman led organization that organizes young Black people in Chicago by providing them with political education, leadership development, mentorship, and revolutionary services. Donate
  • Black Lives Matter Chicago Chapter Black Lives Matter Chicago is an intersectional vehicle that values Black people and our right to self-determination. We fight for justice with families most impacted, while working to create just and equitable systems. Donate or Get Involved
  • Brave Space Alliance is a Black and trans-led LGBTQ center dedicated to providing resources and programming to queer people on the South and West Sides. The group is also pushing for queer and trans inclusivity in the movement for Black lives. Donate or Volunteer
  • Chicago Alliance Against Racist & Political Repression (CAARPR) is a local chapter of the National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression. This group addresses and fights against discrimination based on race and religion. Donate or Volunteer
  • Chicago Community Bond Fund raises money for bail for those arrested in the protests who cannot afford it or who may be incarcerated for another reason. Donate
  • Chicago COVID-19 Hardship and Help organizes mutual-aid to families that are hard hit by the virus. Families make requests to the organization. Volunteers fulfill those requests. Donate
  • Let us Breathe Collective The #LetUsBreathe Collective is an alliance of artists and activists organizing through a creative lens to imagine a world without prisons and police. The collective operates the Breathing Room space, a Black-led liberation headquarters for arts, organizing and healing on the South Side.  Donate
  •  My Block, My Hood, My City funds and organizes efforts to repair small businesses. It also provides aid to seniors for COVID-19. Donate or Volunteer
  • Resident Association of Greater Englewood (R.A.G.E.) The Resident Association of Greater Englewood (R.A.G.E.) is a resident-driven association that strategizes to address community problems, creates tangible solutions and actively seeks ways to keep fellow residents informed. Donate
  • SOUL seeks to empower and support low income residents on the South Side. Currently, they are arguing for the release of arrested protestors and putting them in touch with legal services while spreading information about demonstrations/protests. Donate
  • Black Youth Project The Chicago chapter of the Black Youth Project organized the #HonorHerLabor Gallery pop-up to pay honor to the unspoken labor of Black women and femmes and organized a #SayHerName week of actions and events. 

Educational Resources
  • The Black History Public Library has made a list of educational resources by black authors available to read through pdf files, read one today and learn more about Black History.
  • Black Lives Matter Chicago provides a toolkit and educational resources to learn about the movement and the injustices that have been fought, to learn more visit BLM Toolkits
  • A list of curriculum resources for parents/teachers to teach K-12 students about the Black Lives Movement as well as other resources including coloring pages and toolkits click here.
COVID-19 Count as of today:
673 new COVID cases, 29 deaths
21,844 tests run in the last 24 hours


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
Brave Space Alliance:  Drive Ends this Sunday, June 14
Earlier this week, my team and I made our first drop off of three cars full of items to Brave Space Alliance. The turn out has been incredible and I want to thank all our neighbors for their contributions thus far. The drive ends this Sunday, June 14. I also want to thank R Public House for taking the donations in and assisting us in getting these items over to BSA. For those interested, monetary donations can be made here .
Illinois Department of Human Services Update: Online SNAP Benefits
Amazon and Walmart have started to roll out their online platforms to accept SNAP EBT cards for online purchases. can read more at Amazon’s Day One  Blog , Amazon’s SNAP EBT  webpage , and you can find Walmart's FAQ page here .
Illinois Criminal Justice Authority: Youth Employment Program & NOFO Announcement for Sexual Assault/Human Trafficking Services
An ICJIA-administered state Violence Prevention and Street Intervention Program grant has been announced to support the Department of Human Services Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP). Grants will be offered regionally, with $396,399 available for Chicago-based programming. The program will ease the economic impact of COVID-19 on summer youth employment as it is anticipated Illinois' young people will be challenged to find jobs in the coming months. Youth served by the SYEP program will receive employment placement, develop essential employability skills, and gain entry-level work experience. Funding will allow for program expansion, allowing SYEP partners to increase the maximum eligible employment subsidy from $10 per hour to $15 per hour statewide and offer more stipends/incentives for participation in employment skill-building exercises. More details can be found here .


A Notice of Funding Opportunity was announced for grants for services to victims of both sexual assault and human trafficking. Applications are due July 10, view details here .
Business Updates: Payroll Protection Program changes & DCEO Civil Unrest Impact Form
The bipartisan PPP Flexibility Act was signed into law last week, after first being introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives. The updates reflect the needs of vulnerable small businesses on Main Street and will increase flexibility and access to PPP loans included, by:
  • Allowing forgiveness for expenses beyond the 8-week covered period to 24 weeks and extending the rehiring deadline
  • Increasing the current limitation on non-payroll expenses (such as rent, utility payments and mortgage interest) for loan forgiveness from 25 to 40 percent
  • Extending the program from June 30 to December 31
  • Extending loan terms from two to five years; and ensuring full access to payroll tax deferment for businesses that take PPP loans

DCEO Civil Unrest Impact Form

The state's Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity is working to secure access to helpful resources for businesses affected by vandalism. DCEO is working with the U.S. Small Business Administration to provide targeted, low-interest loans to small businesses and non-profits severely affected by these events in counties that have received a disaster declaration. As a part of this process, DCEO is collecting information from businesses that have been negatively impacted. You can access the form by clicking here .  We would encourage businesses to also take pictures of the damages before cleaning up.
*Note: this is not a loan application.
Artists Off the Wall: Submissions are Open
Every year Loyola Park Hosts Artists of the Wall to bring the community together and show case local talent. Due to COVID this year they will be hosting it virtually. Submissions are due June 21, you can learn more by visiting the website 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)