How I'm Addressing the Violence in Our Ward - Chicago Alderman Newsletter Tracker

Email from Alderman Desmon Yancy

I Won't Rest until the Fifth Ward Is Safe for All Residents and Visitors

Like you, I was stunned and heartbroken by the news of three fatal shootings in Hyde Park and South Shore on Thursday evening. All of the victims were sitting in cars. One incident has now been determined to be domestic violence. Police are still investigating the others, which appear to be random shootings by individuals with no regard for human life.

This will not be tolerated in our peaceful community, and should be prevented from occurring anywhere in the city. As I told WGN-TV reporter Erik Runge at the scene, the community is understandably on edge due to this violence, but I assure you that I will be working tirelessly with the Mayor's office, the police department, and Alderman Ronnie Mosley (21st) to help pass the recently introduced ordinance creating an Office of Gun Violence Prevention. We plan for it to aggregate resources, not just for victims of violent acts, but also to help ensure we're investing the right resources in the right places so these tragedies don't happen.

If you have information that could lead to the arrest of the individuals responsible for this violence, please call 911. And also, share your concerns and suggestions for keeping the Fifth Ward violence-free by calling my office at (773) 324-5555.

Full WGN-TV story.

Get Low-Interest Loan Information, In-Person Counseling This Week

If you suffered storm damage, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has opened Disaster Loan Outreach Centers (DLOCs) for residents and businesses impacted by the severe storms on June 10, June 11, and June 17, 2026.

SBA customer service representatives will be on hand to answer your questions about SBA’s disaster loan program, explain the application process, and help you complete your application.

The loans will provide qualifying homeowners, renters, businesses, and certain non-profit organizations with assistance for damages not covered by insurance. Homeowners and renters can apply for up to $500,000 in low-interest loans to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate.

On the South Side, centers have been established at two Chicago Public Library locations: the Pullman Branch at 11001 S. Indiana and the Thurgood Marshall Branch at 7506 S. Racine Ave. Walk-ins are accepted, but you can schedule an in-person appointment in advance at appointment.sba.gov.

All centers will operate Monday through Saturday until July 30, according to the schedule below.

Homeowners or renters can apply for up to $100,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property such as appliances and furniture. Businesses and some not-for-profits can borrow up to $2 million for physical damages.

Online Applications

To apply online, visit sba.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email [email protected] for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.

The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is September 8, 2026. The deadline to return economic injury applications is April 12, 2027.

Note: All impacted residents, regardless of where they live, can go to any Disaster Loan Outreach Center (DLOC) site, even if it is not their Ward, county, or municipality. Each location will have a Spanish translator available.

I hope this information is helpful.

In service,

Alderman Desmon Yancy

Are you a Medical Professional?The City Is Hiring

Take Advantage of Free Health Screenings during Your Birth Month

Entrepreneurs: This Could Be You

Concerned about Immigration Enforcement?

Share your vision for the future of Chicago's public spaces this summer during the Friends of the Parks' citywide Community Dialogues series. Enjoy light refreshments, good company, and honest conversation about what it will take to keep our parks free and accessible for all.

Click here to RSVP.

These Gary Comer Youth Center Teens Are On Task

This youth-led Farmers Market is open during the growing season: July 8 through October 31. They accept SNAP, EBT, cash, and credit. Link match available.

The market is located at the Comer Crops Youth Farm on the west side of S. South Chicago Avenue, across the street from the Youth Center.

Support these youth throughout the growing season

Enjoy a wide selection of youth-raised farm-fresh fruits, vegetables, and herbs at a sliding-scale price model. Shop youth-made goods, handmade crafts, and artisan products. Enjoy a tour of their one-of-a-kind farm, partake in a gardening workshop, and learn about how you can contribute to food sovereignty in our community. Indulge in delicious seasonal treats made fresh and from scratch by a youth-driven culinary team.

Youth-raised & harvested

In addition to farm and garden workshops and tours, they also feature a number of youth-crafted products like Comer Crops Raw Honey, raised and harvested by certificate-earning beekeepers.

Learn more about this award-winning Urban Agriculture Program.

On a Related "Note"...(excuse the pun)

If Your Teens Are Tuned in to Tech, They Still Have Three Weeks to Explore the

Lost Boyz Tech Space

Family Entertainment

Enjoy Our World-Class Museums for Free

Here is a list of free museum days in Chicago for summer 2026.

Adler Planetarium, 1300 S. DuSable Lake Shore Drive. Free for Illinois residents on Aug. 26 and Sept. 8-10 and 14-15; adlerplanetarium.org.

Art Institute of Chicago, 111 S. Michigan Ave. Free for Illinois residents on Thursdays (July 30 and Aug. 6, 13, 20, 27) from 5 to 8 p.m.; artic.edu.

Chicago History Museum, 1601 N. Clark St. Free for Illinois residents on Aug. 13 and 27 and Sept. 7 and 24; chicagohistory.org.

Field Museum, 1400 S. DuSable Lake Shore Drive. Free for Illinois residents every Wednesday (July 29 and Aug. 5, 12, 19, 26); fieldmuseum.org.

Griffin Museum of Science and Industry, 5700 S. DuSable Lake Shore Drive. Free for Illinois residents on Aug. 24-27 and 31 and Sept.1-2, 8-10, 15-16, 20-23, and 27-30; griffinmsi.org.

Heritage Museum of Asian Art, 3500 S. Morgan St. Free admission on the third Friday of each month (July 31 and Aug. 7, 14, 21, 28); heritageasianart.org.

Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 E. Chicago Ave. Free for Illinois residents on Tuesdays (July 28 and Aug. 4, 11, 18 and 25) from 5 to 9 p.m.; Every Tuesday through Aug. 25, the MCA hosts a free contemporary jazz concert. mcachicago.org.

Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, 2430 N. Cannon Drive. Free for Illinois residents on Aug. 24-26, and Sept. 8-11, 14-18, 21-25 and 28-30; naturemuseum.org.

Shedd Aquarium, 1200 S. DuSable Lake Shore Drive. Free for Illinois residents from 5 to 9 p.m. on July 28 and Aug. 4, 11, 18 and 26; sheddaquarium.org

What's On the

Obama Presidential Center Calendar?

For details, visit: https://obama.org/whats-on/

Support Children and Families at

This Annual Basketball Tournament

The 7th Annual Back-to-School Youth Basketball Tournament & Community Event brings together youth, families, community organizations, and local leaders for a day focused on education, health, wellness, mentorship, and community engagement. The Foundation's goal is to ensure that children and families have access to the resources they need to start the school year prepared and supported.