Dear Neighbors,

Last month, Ricardo, an 18-year-old Mather High School student was detained under false pretenses, along with his mother, Liliana. When they got an email asking them to come to sign a document for their case––they showed up at the Chicago Immigration Court, where they were immediately detained outside the courthouse.

Ricardo's family came here 3 years ago from Colombia, and they have since become active members of our communities. Ricardo joined the Mather High School soccer club, balancing his team and working to support his family. As a high school senior, he was planning on playing college soccer next year at a junior college.

Now, he is imprisoned in a detention center, separated from his family and his community. Even though Ricardo is still in high school, he was not kept together with his mother, so both of them are now forced to face this horrific situation alone.

Our goal is to show Ricardo and his family that they are not alone––they have a community who will stand up for them, and support them. We are so grateful for members of the community who showed up on Thursday to rally in support of Ricardo, and who have been helping to fundraise to meet their needs.

If you’d like to support these efforts, you can donate to their GoFundMe! The community is raising funds to support their legal fees, the basic needs of their family members who have been left behind and have to make ends meet on their own, and to keep Ricardo and Liliana’s commissary accounts stocked so they can purchase basic needs and make phone and video calls––among the other outrages about conditions in which detainees are being kept is the fact that they are charged to make phone calls. Especially because they are also being moved frequently, interfering with the ability for their families and attorneys to contact them, this is despicable, and we should all continue calling on Congress not to fund one more dime of Department of Homeland Security’s cruel and inhumane treatment of our neighbors.

During this time when it is so difficult to find hope, the one perpetual source of hope I’ve found is the way that we show up for each other. Over and over again, neighbors have shown up in concrete, material ways to support members of our community who are being targeted and abused: buying groceries, fundraising for legal support, patrolling the streets to alert neighbors at risk, and so much more. Thank you to every single one of you who has shown what it means to be a good neighbor this year. I’m so grateful for all of you.

I will be out on vacation for the next two weeks, so you’ll be hearing from other members of our staff while I’m out! In the meantime, I look forward to seeing you all for our Good, Shredder, Best shred event tomorrow from 11am–2pm (or until trucks are full)!

Yours in Service and Community,

Andre Vasquez

Lincoln Avenue Streetscape

The second and final phase of the Lincoln Avenue Streetscape Project is nearing the finish line! The installation of the Western/Ainslie traffic signal has been delayed due to a car accident that damaged a mast arm. Crews are currently waiting on an additional part for the new traffic light, and we anticipate that it will be operational in the coming weeks. One of the right turning lanes remains closed until the traffic light is programmed and functional.

Conduit Work in Lincoln Square

Due to the recent resurfacing of Rockwell St, crews are currently performing conduit work in Lincoln Square that includes directional boring, open cut trenching, and placement of manholes. The work area includes Ainslie and Rockwell from Lawrence to Leland, as well as Leland from Rockwell to Campbell. The project should take around 2 weeks to complete!

Ashland Resurfacing & Traffic Signal

Median work continues on Ashland between Peterson and Foster, but we hope to see it completed this week, weather permitting, with landscaping work to follow. From Foster to Montrose, crews are currently working on sewer work and saw cutting. Traffic lane closures to allow for curb and gutter work will happen at Winnemac and Carmen, so please allow additional time for your commute!

The Ashland and Berwyn traffic signal is up and running! We’re thrilled to see this project completed in advance of the completion of Elise Malary Plaza.

Speaking of which: we received word this week that a contractor has been awarded for this project, and we look forward to planning a groundbreaking in the near future!

Always.. Patsy Cline at American Blues Theater

American Blues Theater presents Always...Patsy Cline. This musical play, complete with down-home country humor and big-hearted emotion, includes hits “Crazy”, “I Fall to Pieces”, “Sweet Dreams”, “Walkin’ After Midnight” and more! A limited number of free tickets are available to Ward 40 residents for the May 1 - May 7 performances.  Please email [email protected] with the subject line "40 for Ward 40" and your preferred date to reserve free tickets (maximum of 2 tickets per household).

ESL English: Conversationally Speaking with Literacy Chicago

On Fridays from 2 to 3:30 p.m., Literacy Chicago is hosting an ESL conversation group at the Chicago Public Library Budlong Woods Branch, at 5630 N. Lincoln Avenue. This program is a free, weekly conversation group for adults with some English language skills who would like more practice.  

Celebrate National Library Week at the Budlong Woods Library!

The Friends of Budlong Woods Library invites you to celebrate National Library Week with refreshments and groovy tunes from the Opal City Diamonds on Sunday, April 19th, at 2 PM. All ages welcome! The Chicago Public Library Budlong Woods Branch is located at 5630 N. Lincoln Avenue.

Centro Romero Rock Concert Benefit

On Sunday, April 19 from at 6pm, Double Clutch Brewing Company is hosting Centro Romero's Rock Concert Benefit at 2121 Ashland Avenue, Evanston. Up to 200 people will appreciate a local group of musicians covering music by The Doors, and enjoy drinks prepared by the venue. Both the band and the venue will donate their services for the benefit of Centro Romero, so 100% of proceeds from $20 tickets will go straight to Centro Romero. RSVP by buying a ticket at this link.

Volunteer at the West Andersonville Community Garden

On April 19 from 9:00am to 12:00pm, West Andersonville Neighbors Together  WANT is hosting Volunteer in West Andersonville Community Garden at Ravenswood and Summerdale! Contact WANT at westandersonville.com/contact-us for more information!

Jamieson Elementary Pre Earth Day Volunteer Event

Join Jamieson Education Family and Friends for a Pre-Earth Day Volunteer Event this Saturday, April 18th from 9am to 12pm at Jamieson Elementary Playground to clean and mulch the area. Sign up at this link.

April Salon: Celebrating Edgewater’s Theaters

On Thursday, April 23 from 6pm to 8pm, Edgewater Historical Society is hosting their April Salon as part of their Celebrating Edgewater's Theatres Exhibit at 5358 N Ashland Ave, Chicago, IL 60640. Please join us in discovering more about why this iconic Edgewater theatre company, Babes with Blades, uses stage combat in all of their productions. Light refreshments will be served. This event is free and open to the public. We hope to see you there!

Public Safety Updates

Hi Neighbors,

This week, the 20th District Council held its monthly meeting at the Broadway Armory, where we had the opportunity to hear from Darrell Dacres, Director with Communities Partnering for Peace (CP4P). CP4P continues to play a vital role in violence prevention across our communities. Their street outreach teams focus on building trusted relationships, intervening in high-risk situations, and responding swiftly to emerging threats. They also work to de-escalate tensions following incidents such as shootings, helping to prevent further harm.

In addition to outreach, CP4P provides comprehensive case management services, connecting individuals at risk of becoming victims or perpetrators of violence with critical resources. These supports include legal and restorative justice services, employment assistance, family support, trauma-informed mental health care, and substance use services. Their victim services offer safety planning, wraparound care, and attention to emotional and mental well-being during times of crisis.

We are deeply grateful for the impact of CP4P’s work and remain committed to advocating for the funding necessary to sustain and expand these efforts!

Looking ahead, the 20th District will host a Safety Saturday event on April 18th from 10am–1pm. A limited number of safety clubs will be available for Honda owners, providing an added layer of protection in response to the recent increase in airbag thefts. You can find out more about that below!

Yours in Service,

Deirdre O’Connor

20th District Vehicle Safety Saturday

On April 18th from 10:00am to 1:00pm, the 20th District is hosting Safety Saturday Vehicle Theft Prevention at 5400 N. Lincoln Ave. The first ten community members will receive a free vehicle theft prevention device. Learn more by call 312-742-8770 or emailing [email protected].

Apply to COPA’s Community Advisory Committee

COPA is searching for members of the community to join their Community Advisory Committee! The committee serves as a communication conduit between COPA & community, creates transparent dialogue with community, and provides input on topics affecting City of Chicago residents. Applications are due April 30, more information is available here.

Public Safety Trends

Overall, violent crime is down 17% in the 40th Ward for the year so far compared to last year! Citywide, violent crime is down 8.6%. See below for a breakdown of citywide and 40th Ward statistics across all categories.

It was a pleasure getting to visit students at Mosaic School this past week!

Thank you to Indivisible Lincoln Square for hosting us for their event: Detained and Separated: The Human Cost of U.S. Immigration Policy on Families and Children!

Thank you to everyone who joined our April Committee on Immigrant and Refugee Rights meeting to discuss the City’s oversight of police technology, procurement practices, and the potential intersections with federal law enforcement data access and information sharing. We look forward to following up on what we learned to make sure Chicago lives up to its status as a Welcoming City!

At this month’s City Council meeting, we got a chance to honor local hero and Jamieson Elementary crossing guard Joe Sass!