In this newsletter:

26th Ward Office Events •  26th Ward Office Updates  • Resources for Youth • Community Events • Public Notices • Job Opportunities

Neighbors,

This week in the 26th Ward, we’re lifting up the work, the people, and the spaces that keep our community grounded, growing, and moving forward together. We’re starting with ways to care for our shared environment and show love for the spaces we all call home.

Earth Month Is Here

26th Ward neighbors, we’ve recently been getting messages on how you can help clean up the ward. It’s Earth Month, and we’ve got a full lineup all April long, from our Recycling Extravaganza to an Earth Day Clean Up you can sign up for, a community 5K, tree planting in Hermosa, and even a newspaper drive to support sheltered animals.

Whether you’re looking to give back, get active, meet neighbors, or take care of your space, there’s a way to plug in. We’ll see you out there.

Throwback Thursday

As we keep moving forward, we’re also making space to celebrate the work our community has already done to shape where we are today. We’re kicking off our Throwback Thursday series, highlighting what we’ve been up to across the ward. From events to city services to city hall, this is a space to look back at the moments that move our community forward. Take a look at this week’s post and follow along with us each Thursday.

National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture

The work of uplifting and protecting community and culture is the cornerstone of The National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture (NMPRAC). The NMPRAC is the only Puerto Rican museum outside of the island, and we are so fortunate to have it nestled in the middle of Humboldt Park. Vero and Billy Ocasio have worked tirelessly to ensure that Puerto Ricans have the opportunity to tell our stories, from colonialism to resistance to celebrating the crafts of our ancestors. 

When Hurricane Maria hit the island, it was at the museum where our community gathered to organize lifesaving supplies to send back. When the island’s art institutions were facing ruin, it was the museum that stepped up to offer a home to both the artists and the artifacts. When our newcomer families were bussed from Texas to Chicago, it was the museum that collected clothes and food to welcome them.

And when federal agents glibly stopped by the museum before Barrio Arts Festival last year, it was the museum that designed and implemented the protocols our office and many public spaces across the city continue to use to this day.

This pedacito de la isla is a safe haven for so many and, furthermore, upholds our understanding that knowledge exists beyond the academy. Knowledge is all around, in the children who embody joy and play, in the elders who teach us about our lineages, and in everyone who bears witness to a world thriving in spite of the struggle.

I am so proud to support Vero, Billy, and the whole team in their pursuit of the American Alliance of Museums accreditation. Our memories deserve to be preserved, and our community deserves this gem to empower healing, learning, and building. Good luck in your application!

Housing & Zoning Updates

Encuentro Square II 

I am excited to share that Encuentro Square II is moving forward, marking a major step toward bringing more affordable housing to our community. This development is part of a broader city effort to create 1,164 new affordable units across 15 projects, expanding options for Chicagoans to remain in the neighborhoods they know and call home.

Located near the Bloomingdale Trail, Encuentro Square II reflects a transit-oriented approach to development while responding to the housing needs of Logan Square. I have heard firsthand how impactful the first phase of Encuentro Square has been for families in our community. We know that stable, accessible housing supports the long-term well-being of its residents, and Encuentro is a proof of concept.

Through the City’s “Cut the Tape” Initiative, projects like this can move forward more efficiently by reducing administrative barriers and costly delays, with construction expected to begin in as little as three months. This streamlined approach helps protect residents and strengthen communities for decades to come.

ADU announcement

Chicago’s expanded Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) ordinance officially went into effect on April 1, reopening the door to a housing option that had been restricted for nearly 70 years. The new citywide program allows for attic and basement apartments, as well as coach houses, across a wide range of residential, business, and commercial zoning districts, including many single-family areas in over two-thirds of the city’s wards. 

ADUs offer a flexible way to expand housing options while helping residents stay in their communities, whether that means creating space for families, generating additional income, or increasing the overall housing supply. In the 26th Ward, we have already received 13 applications, reflecting strong early interest in the program!

When I was working on the ordinance with Alderman Lawson, our focus was on adding more accessible, community-rooted housing across Chicago. The entire 26th Ward is now zoned to allow ADUs. I am so excited about this expansion.

In Solidarity,

Alderperson Jessie Fuentes

26th Ward Office Updates

Property Tax Exemption Day 4/16

Hermosa Town Hall 4/26

Property Tax Exemption Applications Are Open

Free Mammograms 4/11

Cicero Land Study - Virtual Community Meeting 4/29

Construction Alerts

Jumping Jack Program opens 4/15

The Jumping Jack Program is limited to residential block parties within the Chicago city limits. Events on private property, in parks, in forest preserves, at schools, libraries or churches, private parties, birthday parties, community events and festivals are not eligible to apply.

Applicant must reside on the block where the Block Party is taking place.

When completing the application, if all information is input correctly, the applicant will receive an immediate auto-reply confirmation message containing the request.  If applicant does not receive the auto-reply message, the request WAS NOT received.

To avoid errors, applicants should:

Complete the application on a computer using Google Chrome.

• Be sure to manually fill in each of the boxes on the application; errors can occur when the fields auto-populate.

  Try putting a “.” (period) after the letter used to denote the street direction (i.e., N., S., E. or W.) of the block party address.

  Press “SUBMIT” at the end of the application.

• Applicants will receive APPROVAL or DENIAL emails once their application is processed.

• Jumping Jacks are only available on Saturdays and Sundays. Requests are typically highest on Saturdays – applicants should consider Sundays.

  The Jumping Jack Program will NOT operate on Saturday, July 4^th.

• Only one request per block, per season will be honored.  Multiple requests from the same block will be denied.

• Approved block parties will receive one (1) Jumping Jack for four (4) hours on the approved day. The Jumping Jack will be delivered between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. and will be picked up between the hours of 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. The Jumping Jack provider cannot accommodate specific time requests or deliver/pick-up outside of the times listed above.

• If the incorrect date is selected in error, applicant MUST email [email protected] for further instruction.  Last minute date changes will not be honored.

• Requests must be made through the Registration Portal – emails will not be accepted.

• Applicants MUST receive a permit from their Aldermanic Ward office in order to hold a Block Party.  

• Requests are filled on a first-come, first-served basis.

Immigration Rights Resources

CDOT Street Work

26th Ward Zoning

The 26th Ward's zoning process requires anyone requesting a zoning change to first complete a zoning intake form. After review, they present their request to the Zoning Advisory Committee and answer questions. In some cases, they may also present at a community input meeting.

We are currently reviewing zoning change requests for the following properties.

RFP - My Chi. My Future. due 4/20

Youth Events/Resources

Chicago Youth Works

Chicago Youth Works Info Session - 4/7

Chicago Youth Works Expo - 4/11

The Light Auditions - 4/4 & 4/11

To participate, interested students must complete the audition form. Auditions are held on March 28, April 4, and April 11 from 10 AM to noon.

Participants will receive $16/hour for rehearsals, studio time, and showcases (audition time is not paid). After completing the program, students receive headshots, video documentation, and continued access to creative tools and consultations with our artistic staff.

The dates for this summer employment opportunity are from June 16, 2026, to August 8, 2026.  We will meet from 10:30 AM to 2 PM Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, and on Saturday mornings from 10 AM to 2 pm.

Please review our FAQ below. If you have questions or want to set up a call, contact  [email protected] or 872-315-7961.

The Light Upcoming Dates

Radiate Open Mic

Student Showcase

Provident Scholarship Fund - Due 4/19

Humboldt Park Patriots Enrollment

Chicago Latino Caucus Foundation

GoSTEM Youth Programs

Be a Student Election Judge

Community Events

48th Puerto Rican People’s Day Parade - Save The Date

Free Latine Concert 4/12

Clerk’s Office Upcoming Events

Chicago Public Library Presents: 3/25 - 4/22

Brewery Tour 4/9

Seeds to Strength 4/21

Public Notices/Resources

Art Classes Enrollment Open

Vendors Wanted: Chicago Plant & Flower Festival

Free Senior Legal Services

Tax Preparation Support

Bilingual Foster Homes Needed

Cycling Safety

Real ID

Community Clinic

Pet Food Pantry

Become a Homemaker

Become a Foster Parent

Senior Home Support

Domestic Violence Resources

Housing Services

CEDA Utility Relief Programs

Seniors Community Care Program

NEW Illinois Immigration Info Hub

Veteran Services

Cannabis Expungement Project

City of Chicago - Know Your Rights Guide

ICIRR - Rights Card

The Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) provides this Rights Card to protect you during interactions with law enforcement or immigration officials.

📞 Family Support Hotline:
Call 1-855-HELP-MY-FAMILY (1-855-435-7693) for assistance in English, Spanish, Korean, or Polish.

✅The right to remain silent.

✅The right to refuse answering questions without legal representation.

✅The right to contact an attorney or organization for help.

Print and carry this card to assert your rights and ensure your safety in uncertain situations. For more information, visit www.icirr.org/family-support

Intake for People Experiencing Homelessness

Court-Based Rental Assistance Program

Chicago Senior Risk Assessment Program

Chicago Rents Program

25th District Council - Public meeting  3/26

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. 

14th Police District Council

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.

Job Opportunities/ Training

Reproductive Justice

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.