Neighbors, 

Last night, I joined the Treatment Not Trauma CARES town hall. Treatment Not Trauma is a coalition of mental health practitioners and neighbors who believe that a person in a mental health crisis should be taken care of by a person who is a trained clinician. Years of fighting for this care response have taken shape through the city’s Crisis Assistance Response and Engagement (CARE) program. Starting in October, CARE teams will be responding to calls during the hours of 9 am to 10 pm, an expansion from the current 9 am to 5 pm hours. 

Community members offered ideas on how to further expand this campaign to ensure it’s reaching the people who need it most and were clear about what they wanted to see from their elected officials. I, along with Alders Rossana Rodríguez-Sanchez, Anthony Quezada, and Daniel LaSpata, will continue to push for the resources needed to take care of our vulnerable community members. Learn more about Treatment not Trauma HERE.

National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture Accreditation

It’s hard to believe that the National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture (NMPRAC) started 26 years ago with a trailer and horse stables in dire need of renovation. Today, that same location welcomed 2,000 people on their first day of Barrio Arts Fest this year.

This month, the American Alliance of Museums granted the NMPRAC the highest recognition a museum can receive, making it the FIRST Puerto Rican museum in the world to obtain this recognition. Billy and Verónica Ocacio have worked tirelessly to ensure that Puerto Ricans can tell their 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 offered a home to the artists and the artifacts both. When our newcomer families were bussed from Texas to Chicago, it was the museum that collected the clothes and the food to welcome them. And when federal agents stopped by the museum before Barrio Arts Fest last July, it was the museum that designed the protocols our office and public spaces across this city still use today. 

I want to congratulate and thank Billy and Vero Ocasio and every member of the NMPRAC staff and board for what they built and continue to give to our community. Your love and care for our community is immeasurable, and we are happy to see your work recognized. To learn more about the accreditation, read more here.

Community Safety Committee

Two weeks ago, community organizations and neighborhood partners discussed ways to strengthen safety, expand opportunities for youth, and build healthier communities. The committee celebrated the success of the Puerto Rican Parade and Festival, recognizing the collaboration among community organizations, outreach workers, and public safety partners that helped families feel safe throughout the event.

Committee members also identified opportunities to improve future events by expanding violence prevention efforts, increasing community education about Community Violence Intervention (CVI) workers, and strengthening neighborhood partnerships. Looking ahead, we encourage residents to participate in upcoming events, including the Back-to-School Bash on August 13, which will provide resources, free haircuts, family activities, and opportunities to connect with local organizations.

The committee also discussed a new campaign to prevent violence against women, support outreach workers through professional development, and connect young adults ages 18–24 with the Rise and Thrive Research Project. In addition, members shared information about new grant opportunities through the Mayor's Office of Gun Violence Reduction, upcoming City training on responding to mental health emergencies and invited community residents to attend BUILD’s Humboldt Park Resource Fair originally scheduled for August 1 but had to be rescheduled to the weather. We invite residents to support local events and work alongside neighborhood organizations to build stronger, healthier, and more connected communities. As always, WE KEEP US SAFE!

SNAP & FRESH Program Update

The Families Receiving Emergency Support for Hunger (FRESH) is a temporary program established by the State of Illinois to provide a one-time cash benefit of $400 to households whose SNAP benefits were reduced or terminated as a result of one or more individuals in the SNAP household failing to meet the Federal SNAP Work Requirement. There is no application process for FRESH. The Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) maintains records of eligible individuals and will contact those individuals directly. For more details, visit https://saveoursnap.org/fresh.

Upcoming Youth Events

If you are not already following me on social media, please do. Every Monday we have our weekly bulletin board of events in the ward. If you’d like to promote your 26th Ward event, fill out this submission form.  Here are some upcoming events for you and your family to attend, including a Back To School Bash on 8/9 right by our office at Division and Campbell.

In Solidarity,

Alderperson Jessie Fuentes

26th Ward Office Updates

Community Resources

26th Ward Events

Immigration Rights Resources

Construction Projects

26th Ward Zoning

The 26th Ward's community-led 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.

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.