February 6th, 2026
Dear Neighbors,
We made it through January, and as we step into February, we take time to recognize and celebrate Black History Month— and particularly the Black leaders who have shaped Chicago, including the founder of Chicago, Jean Baptiste Point du Sable.
February also brings opportunities to connect and come together as a community. There are many ways to show up for the community - from collecting supplies for our neighbors in Minneapolis to shoveling snow for the elderly and disabled right here in the 30th Ward.
In the spirit of showing up for our community, I’m thrilled to share that the 30th Ward food pantry is now open to anyone who needs it. Thanks to the generosity of our neighbors, a wall in our office lobby has been transformed into a pantry stocked with food and hygiene essentials. If you or someone you know could use support, please stop by during our normal business hours and take what you need—no questions asked. If your school, organization, or business is interested in partnering with us on future food drives to help keep the pantry stocked, we welcome you to reach out to our office.
Fat Tuesday is February 17th and the 30th Ward Office is very excited for paczki day! If you are looking for a sweet treat before February 17th consider stopping by Bolly’s Hobbies this Saturday from Noon-4pm to buy Girl Scout Cookies from the St. Ferdinand troop. With Lent rapidly approaching we want to remind everyone to Save the Date for for the annual St. Ferdinand’s Fish Fry, check out the menu in the Community Events portion of this newsletter.
Finally, we hope you will join us for what is sure to be a lively Senior Bingo at Disney II TOMORROW Saturday, February 7th from 11:30-1:30. Not able to attend Senior Bingo tomorrow? We hope you’ll save the date for Lotería at Riis Park on Saturday, February 21st from 10am-Noon. These gatherings are a great way to build community, have fun, and check in with one another during the winter months.
Thank you for being part of a caring, connected 30th Ward. We look forward to the weeks ahead.
Sincerely,
Ruth Cruz Alderwoman, 30th Ward |
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To read this newsletter in your preferred Language: Follow this link, click on the newsletter you’d like to read, and select your language from the drop-down menu in the top-right corner. You’ll be redirected to a Google Translate page, where a blue drop-down menu in the top-left corner lets you choose your preferred language. |
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Lending a Hand
Ahead of the bitter cold, we checked in with our seniors by phone to make sure they had everything they needed and knew to call our office over the weekend if assistance was needed.
We also woke up to another winter wonderland last week, so our team headed into the office and began calling neighbors on our snow-shoveling assistance list to see who needed help. I want to extend my deepest gratitude to the community members who consistently pitch in for neighbors who may struggle to shovel, as well as to the volunteers who joined the 30th Ward team—Chris and Rich, you were absolute rock stars this weekend!
If you’re interested in helping with snow shoveling in the future, please reach out to our office—we can always use more helpers! |
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Arise Chicago Celebrates 35 Years Arise Chicago is a member-based worker rights organization that empowers low-wage, primarily immigrant workers through education, leadership development, and organizing to improve workplace conditions and fight wage theft. It was a honor to celebrate alongside them! |
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548 Foundation
We attended 548 Foundation's Aldermanic Open House. 548 Foundation is a workforce development nonprofit that trains and places Chicago residents into skilled trades and clean energy careers and it was a lot of fun to learn more about what they do. 
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The 30th Ward is proud to be partnering on the following upcoming events30th Ward Senior Bingo: Join us tomorrow, Saturday February 7th at Disney II (Kedvale Campus) from 11:30-1:30 for senior bingo. Vet Connect at the 30th Ward Office: The Veterans Assistance Commission of Cook County will be at our office the third Thursday of every month. The next Vet Connect is February 18th from Noon- 4pm.Loteria at Riis Park: Save the date for Loteria at Riis Park - Saturday, February 21st.The Give-n-Receive at Kilbourn Park: We are excited to invite you to a FREE thrifting boutique with clothes and accessories for all ages and genders at Kilbourn Park on Saturday, March 28th from Noon-3pm. The Give n Receive will also be accepting donations of gently used clothes and accessories, a great opportunity to get a head start on your spring cleaning while supporting an amazing community organization.
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Department of Planning and Development: Grants Available Starting, improving or expanding a business? Apply for DPD grant funding by Feb. 13! Businesses, property owners, nonprofits and developers are encouraged to apply for consideration in the next round of the Community Development Grant (CDG) and Neighborhood Opportunity Fund (NOF) programs. More information on both programs, including how to apply, is available at Chicago.gov/CDG and Chicago.gov/NOF 
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Love Local for Valentine’s Day
There are plenty of places in the 30th Ward to celebrate loved ones next week - from a Galentine's Brunch at City Cafe to a romantic Valentine's Dinner at La Villa, 30th Ward restaurants and cafes have something for everyone.
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Digital Literacy for Businesses Join Onward House for their February 17th training for business owners regarding digital literacy and introduction of A.I. This training will be in Spanish. Register here. 
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Immigration & Know Your Rights
Community leaders and elected officials are watching the developments in Minnesota closely as winter turns to spring. Recent actions by city leadership — including directives to document and investigate federal immigration activity — show that local government is preparing.
There are several upcoming opportunities to hear from the Committee on Immigrant and Refugee Rights about what comes next and steps you can take to protect your family and your community. |
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Our office will continue to share reliable updates and connect residents with Know Your Rights resources. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you or someone you know needs support. |
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Heat Ordinance
The Heat Ordinance mandates that landlords provide heating during designated cold weather months for apartments where tenants do not have individual control of heating systems.Heating requirements vary depending on the type of building and heating system, but all are required to maintain a minimum temperature of 68 degrees from 8:30am - 10:30pm and 66 degrees between 10:30pm-8:30am. Additionally, landlords must ensure that individual heating equipment in houses or apartments is maintained in good working condition. The ordinance also requires building owners to supply heat to indoor work spaces during the same period, except in cases where maintaining cold temperatures is essential for the work being performed, such as in refrigerated warehouses. To report a landlord or employers who is in violation call 311 or if you need assistance reporting or have any questions please call the 30th Ward Office. |
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Community Zoning Committee recruiting new members
I established the 30th Ward Community Zoning Committee early in my term to ensure that a broad cross-section of residents would advise me on planning, zoning, and development matters in the ward. (Click here for more information about the CZC.)
With the recent departure of some members, we now have several vacancies on the CZC—and are seeking new members to serve!
If you are interested in serving on the 30th Ward Community Zoning Committee, please send a resume/CV or brief biography outlining your professional and community involvement to [email protected]. Also, please include contact information (including your address) and a few short paragraphs about why you are interested in joining the CZC.
Although we welcome applicants from all areas in the 30th Ward, we are especially interested in making sure the western part of the ward (between Narragansett and Central Avenues) and the central part of the ward (between Central and Kostner Avenues) are well represented.
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Chicago Public Libraries
Chicago Public Library invites you to join in on a Patron Workshop to ensure that the future of CPL reflects our community’s needs and aspirations!
Workshops are available at three locations: Legler Regional Library, Sulzer Regional Library, and Woodson Regional Library. |
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Feedback Needed: Chicago Park District City Wide Participatory Budgeting
In 2026, the Chicago Park District (CPkD) is launching a Citywide Participatory Budget (PB) process to deepen community engagement, increase transparency in public spending, and strengthen resident trust in park planning and resource allocation.
Through this initiative, residents, park users, and community stakeholders will be invited to submit specific park improvement ideas for parks across the city. CPkD will evaluate the ideas for viability and then group the ideas submitted into broader project categories, for instance Public Safety or Environment, to track the general types of projects being requested by the community. Community members will then vote on which broader categories they would most like the Park District to prioritize for funding initiatives.
The winning category or categories will guide how CPkD allocates the PB capital funds. Projects submitted by individuals within the winning category will be evaluated for feasibility of the proposed scope and availability of budget to complete the project. As many feasible projects as possible will be implemented with the funding available. Following a PB model ensures that implemented park improvements reflect the collective priorities of Chicago’s communities. 
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Changes to Vote By Mail
The United States Postal Service will not guarantee your Vote By Mail return ballot envelopes will be postmarked the same day that you mailed it. Any ballot postmarked after Election Day on March 17 cannot be accepted. USPS recommends voters take additional precautions and mail their completed Vote By Mail Ballot at least one week (March 10) before Election Day.
Returning your ballot close to Election Day (March 17)? You have options! Drop your ballot off into any of 52 Secure Drop Boxes located at all Early Voting sites in Chicago – even on Election Day! Go to the post office counter and request a manual postmark Deliver your ballot directly to 69 W. Washington St. – either at the First-Floor lobby drop box or in the 6th Floor office
All qualified ballots properly postmarked by Election Day (March 17) and received up to 14 days after (March 31) will be processed and counted for the 2026 Primary Election. The Chicago Board of Elections will send you an email when it receives your ballot return envelope, and again when your ballot has been processed and counted.
Please Note: Precinct polling places on Election Day do not have drop boxes. Precinct election judges cannot accept Vote By Mail ballots, and VBM ballots returned at precinct polling places will not be processed. Voters instead can use any of 51 Vote Centers open on Election Day to return their Vote By Mail ballot, including the new downtown voting Supersite at 137 S. State St.
Don’t risk a late postmark on your ballot – take any of the steps above to make sure your vote counts!
For more information, go to: https://chicagoelections.gov/voting/vote-mail |
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Election Judges Needed
The Chicago Board of Elections is seeking poll workers for the March 17th, 2026 Primary, including bilingual election judges who speak Spanish or Polish, To learn more and apply, please visit the Board of Elections website. |
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Food Resources The Greater Chicago Food Depository has an interactive map of locations where you can find food assistance: |
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The 30th Ward office has a supply of pantry essentials. If you or someone you know is in need we can provide a bag of groceries, no questions asked. Stop by our office anytime during regular business hours. |
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Emergency Heating Repair Program If your furnace or boiler fails, the City of Chicago’s Emergency Heating Repair Program (EHRP) is designed to help low- to moderate-income homeowners get their heating systems repaired or replaced—without taking on crippling costs.
What you should know: The program reopened November 1, 2025.
It’s available to owner-occupied residential properties (1–4 units) whose households earn 80% or less of the Area Median Income (AMI).
Grants are awarded first-come, first-served and the assistance can cover repair or replacement work—once every 10 years for your property.
To apply, homeowners can download the 311 app or call 311, or use the CHI311 website. If you need assistance applying please reach out to our office.
Note: If your property received EHRP help within the last 10 years, it is ineligible until the 10-year cycle is up.
As Chicago’s temperatures drop, we don’t want residents to risk going without heat. If you or someone you know owns a property in Chicago and could benefit from this program, keep an eye out for the application opening and gather the necessary documents in advance. |
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Utility Assistance Looking for help with your energy bills? CEDA’s LIHEAP utility assistance program offers financial support for low-income households in Cook County to help cover heating and electric costs. Applications reopened on October 1, 2025, and eligibility is based on recent income and household size. Learn more and apply at CEDA’s website or call 800-571-2332. |
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If you would like in person assistance applying for LIHEAP you can make an appointment with Rincon Family Services. Give them a call at 312-907-1517. |
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Resources for Veterans The Veterans Assistance Commission of Cook County will be at the 30th Ward office the third Thursday of each month. The VACCC is a county-based veterans service organization that assists honorably discharged veterans and their dependents who live in Cook County, Illinois. It focuses on both immediate emergency support and benefit navigation to help veterans access the resources they’ve earned. If you or someone you know needs help in the meantime, you can reach out to the VACCC directly at 312-433-6010.
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Resources For Students and Their Families
After School Matters Youth Leaders
The After School Matters Youth Leaders program empowers Chicago teens to build leadership skills while making a positive impact in their communities. Participants gain hands-on experience through service projects, civic engagement, and professional skill-building—while earning a stipend for their time. Youth Leaders develop confidence, teamwork, and real-world experience that helps prepare them for college, careers, and active citizenship. The program offers teens a meaningful opportunity to lead, learn, and give back beyond the classroom. 
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Get Involved at Your Neighborhood Public School
Are you resolved to get more involved in your community in 2026? Consider joining the PTA (aka Friends Of groups) or attending Local School Council Meetings.
PTAs and Friends Of groups play a vital role in supporting our public schools by bringing families, educators, and community members together. These volunteer-led organizations help raise funds for classroom resources, enrichment programs, field trips, and school events, while also building strong school communities through family engagement and advocacy. Just as importantly, they provide a space for parents and caregivers to collaborate with school staff, share ideas, and support student success. Whether you have a few hours to volunteer or can help spread the word, PTAs and Friends Of groups help ensure our neighborhood schools have the support they need to thrive.
Local School Council (LSC) meetings are a great way for parents, caregivers, and community members to stay informed and have a voice in their neighborhood public schools. LSCs play an important role in school governance, including setting priorities, approving budgets, and supporting school leadership. Attending meetings allows you to ask questions, share feedback, and better understand what’s happening in your school community. Whether you’re a parent, guardian, or a neighbor who cares about our local schools, your presence matters—and your participation helps strengthen our schools for all students. |
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Chicago Police and Firefighter Training Academy Applications open in January for current high school sophomores interested in careers in public safety. CPFTA provides hands-on weekly training at the Chicago Police or Fire Academy, focusing on academics, physical fitness, leadership, and the skills needed to pursue careers as police officers, firefighters, or EMTs.
Students must live in Chicago, have a 2.3 GPA or higher, maintain good attendance, and submit two recommendation letters. Information sessions will be offered this winter and spring, with applications accepted through May 1.
The program also offers public safety certifications, paid summer internships, and college credit opportunities. Learn more at CPS.edu/CPFTA or by contacting [email protected] or 773-553-2486.
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Employment Resources
Greencorps Chicago is the City of Chicago’s green industry job training program for individuals with barriers to employment. Greencorps Chicago is currently recruiting potential candidates for this year’s Employment & Training Program. More information and how to apply can be found on the attached flyer and at https://greencorpschicago.org/how-to-apply/. 
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Mental Health Resources
Experiencing a mental health crisis? Be prepared in case you or someone you know needs immediate support. LSSI’s Mobile Crisis Team offers free, confidential help 24/7 and can come to you anywhere on Chicago’s north and northwest sides. Call 833-610-5774 (press 1) to speak with a trained professional who can help guide next steps. 
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Engaging with the Chicago Police Department There are a variety of ways to engage with the Chicago Police Department. Here are upcoming opportunities - including CAPS meetings, Conversations with a Commander, and District Council meetings. If you are unsure of the police district or beat that you live in you can look up that information here. |
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Have you visited us at 5418-A W. Belmont Ave? Stop by and say hi! Here are our hours: Monday: 9am-7pm Tuesday: 9am-5pm Wednesday: 9am-4pm Thursday: 9am-5pm Friday: 9am-3pm Second Saturday each month: 9am-1pm |
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Meet Alderwoman CruzJoin us Monday night from 5-7pm to meet Alderwoman Cruz. Share ideas, concerns, or feedback directly with the Alderwoman - no appointment needed! |
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Connect with your Northwest Side Elected Officials Need help finding out who your state elected officials are? You can look up that information here. |
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