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WARD SERVICE OFFICE
1447 W. MORSE AVE
CHICAGO, IL 60626
773-338-5796
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Good morning neighbors,
I'm back! I returned from medical leave this week and it was so great to get back to in person work with my amazing team. Thank you to all who sent well wishes and a huge thank you to my staff for taking care of our constituents while I was recovering.
My surgery went very well (shoutout to the University of Chicago Hospital system) and my recovery has been on track. I'm so grateful for the access to care and the employment that allowed me the adequate time for the procedure and recovery - too many people aren't afforded the same.
These first days of 2026 have been difficult to say the least. From the January 3, attack on Venezuela which has definitively entered us into a war and the subsequent withdrawal from 66 international agreements, to the January 7 murder of a civilian by our federal government in Minneapolis, to the January 8 shooting of two more civilians in Portland and the renewed ICE attacks on our city, and the freezing of over $10B in federal funds for vital social services for Illinois - it is clear that this year will test us in many ways.
But as my mother always says, we are equal to the task. We live in one of the best neighborhoods in one of the greatest cities in the world. And we're going to continue to come together as community to support and protect one another. So don't despair, prepare.
I spent two days with my team at the beginning of this week preparing for how we will serve you this year. The goals I set before them are as follows:
- Keeping our community informed
- Being consistently responsive with services
- Bringing stability to local government
In this time of distress, I promise you that we will do our best to achieve these goals and give all we have to meet the needs of the residents of the 49th Ward and the people of the City of Chicago. We will also continue to collaborate with community and nonprofit partners to meet needs that go beyond what my office alone can manage. These are tough times, but we are tough people - we are Chicagoans.
Have a safe and restful weekend,
Alderwoman Maria Hadden
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Click the links below to select the section that you want to read!
- CELEBRATIONS & APPRECIATIONS - good news for the week!
- WARD UPDATES - Community announcements, city services, and zoning/development updates
- INFRASTRUCTURE UPDATES - City services and infrastructure notices
- COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT - local events and ways to get involved
-NEED TO KNOW INFO - alerts, services, and government resources
- ROGERS PARK ARTS - events, theatre, and other public arts news
- YOUTH SHINE IN 49 - school news, scholarship opportunities, and youth employment offerings
- COMMUNITY AID - organizational and personal requests for support,
- VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES - Opportunities to give back to the community
- EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES - link to the employment opportunities section of our website
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Celebrations & Appreciations
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Local Artist & Organization Awarded DCASE Grants!
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The Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) recently announced the awardees of the Neighborhood Access Program (NAP) and the DCASE Arts Relief Fund, and two Rogers Park community groups were selected to be recipients! Congratulations to Subhajit Sengupta and Crossing Borders Music Collective for their respective awards, and for all their hard work beautifying the Rogers Park community!
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KNOW YOUR RIGHTS RESOURCES
As Operation Midway Blitz continues and ICE agents have been active around the City, we want to remind neighbors of our Fighting Against Fascist Occupation resources. Know your rights, stay safe, and stay informed. Find
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Shared Cost Sidewalk Program Opens January 12
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Is your sidewalk cracked or broken? If so, now is your chance to get it fixed through the Shared Cost Sidewalk Program. The program opens ONE DAY ONLY this Monday, January 12, from 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM, or until it meets capacity. The program operates on a first-come, first-served basis, so apply quickly. To apply, call 311 or use the CHI 311 website or mobile app. For more information, please visit the Chicago Department of Transportation’s (CDOT) website .
For any questions, contact CDOT at (312) 744-1746 or email cdotsharedcost.
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Submit Feedback On The 400 Theater Opening
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The 400 Theater, formerly the New 400, will be opening at 6746 N Sheridan this year. Currently, residents can share feedback with our office for 35 days, which we will share with the owner. We will be accepting this feedback until February 6th. If you wish to share your thoughts on this theater, please email our Infrastructure and Communications Coordinator, Zach Joseph, at [email protected].
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Recycle Your Holiday Lights With The City
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The holidays are over, but as you take down decorations, don't just throw them away! Please drop off your non-working holiday string lights between now and January 29th at our office (1447 W. Morse Ave), and Reduce Waste Chicago will take them to be properly recycled. Be sure your lights are separated from other decor and are free from other packaging. No plastic bags, please!
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Need assistance with snow shoveling this winter?
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The 49th Ward is proud to bring back its Snow Squad for this winter season! This program will connect interested volunteers and those who need assistance to shovel walkways and keep sidewalks safe this winter.
If you are a senior or a person living with a disability and you are a 49th Ward resident who needs help with shoveling snow this winter, please complete .
If you would be interested in volunteering to shovel snow for your fellow neighbors, please complete .
Note: This does NOT GUARANTEE snow will be shoveled; rather, our office will share the location you submit with our Snow Squad Volunteers. Once someone is available, they will stop by to shovel for you.
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New Bus Schedules for 36 & 151 Bus Lines
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The CTA implemented new schedules for the 36 Broadway and 151 Sheridan bus routes on December 21. These two routes will have the same frequency, but arrival times may change up to a few minutes. Make sure to sign up for CTA alerts at to stay up-to-date.
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DWM Sewer Rehabilitation Work
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Neighbors, please be advised that the Department of Water Management (DWM) began a Sewer Lining project on November 24, 2025, and will have 75 calendar days to complete their work. This work will occur on the sewer west of N Greenview Ave from the alley south of W Pratt to W North Shore.
DWM will be sending letters to residents located in the immediate area to provide notification of the work once they begin lining the sewer mains. No parking signs will be posted in the immediate area one workday prior to the start of any scheduled work. It will be necessary to close some lanes, but the streets will remain open to traffic. Work is typically completed during working hours, and Cure In Place Pipe (CIPP) is non-destructive and requires little to no excavation, limiting the impact to residents.
The rehabilitation work includes cleaning the sewers and the installation of CIPP. The installation of CIPP consists of lining the existing sewers and generally does not require excavation, except when repairs are required prior to lining of the sewer main, catch basin lateral connections, catch basin structures, or manhole structures.
Typical work includes the following:
• Main sewer cleaning and televising
• Catch Basin (drainage structures on the curbside) cleaning, televising, and lining of the pipe connections to the main sewer
• Catch Basin and Sewer Manhole structures lining
• Main Sewer Lining immediately followed by the reinstatement of house drain services and catch basin pipe connections
• The lined sewer will be televised to ensure that the work was done properly
If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to our office at [email protected] or at 773-338-5796.
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Rogers Park Library Movie Screening January 11
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Join the Rogers Park Library (6907 N Clark St) for a free screening of Elio (2025) on Sunday, January 11. This free movie will take place from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
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St Jerome Free Hot Meal January 12
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On January 12, St. Jerome Parish will be offering a free hot meal for people experiencing homelessness or living in a vulnerable situation. The meal will be served at 4 p.m. at St. Jerome's Parish Center, located at 1709 W Lunt Ave.
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In honor of National Blood Donor Month, Versiti is hosting a 49th Ward blood drive on Thursday, January 15, from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Rogers Park Library (6907 N Clark St, 2nd Floor meeting room). All attempting donors with a valid email and code SPARK in their appointment notes will receive a $25 e-gift card. You can make an appointment by calling (800) 7TO-GIVE or through.
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Culture of Safety Self-Defense Workshop January 17
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Join Culture of Safety Saturday, January 17th, 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. for their next Self-Defense workshop. Learn how to feel and be safer, stronger, and more self-confident through their empowerment-based workshop. This workshop for adults (age 18+) includes both physical resistance skills to slow down an attacker and get away to safety, as well as communication strategies to deter violence before it starts. Their workshops are always interactive, engaging, accessible for all bodies and abilities, and trauma-informed. Open to adults of all genders and gender identities. Register online:
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24th District Movie Screening January 21
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The 24th District is excited to announce their January 2026 movie feature: Rudy! The screening will take place at the 24th District Police Station, 6464 North Clark Street, at 1:00 p.m. on January 21. Spots are limited, so please RSVP as soon as possible by emailing Daniel.Gajewski.
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Chicago Public Library Film Reflection January 21
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Join the Chicago Public Library for a special event celebrating the release of 40 Years, 40 Films with author in attendance! Award-winning film critic and beloved Chicago broadcaster Nick Digilio has passionately reviewed movies, championed underappreciated gems, and entertained audiences across radio, podcasts, theaters, and live events. Now, in this deeply personal collection, he reflects on 40 years of moviegoing, movie reviewing, and movie-loving — one film at a time. The event will be on January 21. from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. at the Rogers Park Library (6907 N Clark). You can sign up to attend .
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Culture of Safety Classes Start January 19
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Weekly community Tai Chi classes at Culture of Safety resume Monday, Jan 19th. Start your new year with improved calm, coordination, balance, and more! Classes are on Mondays at 7 pm, taught by Sifu Rodrigo. Suggested donation of $15/session. Learn more or register online:
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C24/7 Pregnancy Support Group Starts January 26
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C24/7 Father's Arms Ministries along with Holding Hope Birthing Services are partnering up in order to create a safe and supportive community among pregnant women. Pregnancy is beautiful and can also be a challenging time for some women. C24/7 wants to invite you into a space to unite with others who are walking in the same season as you and bring educational support, as well as emotional support, in your pregnancy journey. You can register at . Please email [email protected] with questions.
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Take the 2025/26 Loyola
Community Engagement Survey
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Last year, Loyola invited neighborhood communities to share their priorities and perspectives about the future of Rogers Park and Edgewater. The campus planning team keeps neighborhood priorities in mind as the future of campus takes shape. This survey revisits key questions to see what’s changed and how they can continue strengthening our relationship. The survey has a deadline of January 31, and you can access it .
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Free Meditation Beginner Classes
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Join Culture of Safety for a FREE Meditation Beginners Series (in the samatha tradition), starting Jan 11th. They meet Sundays, 10 am-11:30 am, Jan 11th-March 22nd. Visit them online for more info or the sign up:
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GeNarrations Writing Workshop Opens January 12
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Goodman Theatre will be hosting GeNarrations, a free seven-week writing and performance class at Willye B. White (1610 W Howard), starting on February 3rd and 4th. The class will take place Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. You can begin registering for the fall session on Monday, January 12th at 10:00 a.m. For more information, contact [email protected].
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Local School Council Election Deadline January 20
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If you are a parent of a current student at your school, or a community member in your school's attendance boundary or voting district, CPS encourages you to consider running as a candidate in your school's Local School Council Election!
Learn more and apply at . Applications are due by 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 20, 2026.
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Secretary of State Unveils Driving Change Initiative
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Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias' office has been engaging in conversations all around Illinois about automobile insurance rates, and has recently announced the Driving Change initiative. This initiative encourages Illinoisians to share their experiences with automobile insurance rates and unify to change the current system. Click to tell your story, and click to contact your state legislator to urge them to take action. Visit their website for more information.
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Events at the Rogers Park Branch Library
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The Rogers Park Branch Library (6907 N. Clark) offers a variety of events and programming for people of all ages. Make sure to check out a list of their upcoming events and register to attend one. More information is available on its .
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Snowplow Naming Contest Open
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The Department of Streets and Sanitation (DSS) announced the City’s fourth annual ‘You Name a Snowplow’ contest. Chicago residents are once again encouraged to create innovative snowplow names and submit them to by January 10, 2026. At the end of the two-phase contest, residents will pick the top six names, and those names will represent one snowplow in each of the City’s .
Signage for the winning snowplow names will be created and installed on the snowplows, and residents who submitted the winning names (earliest time stamp when there are multiple submissions) will be offered a photo opportunity with the named snowplow along with City swag.
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24th District Council Meeting January 11
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The next meeting of the 24th District Council will take place on January 11 at 3 p.m. at the Edgewater Branch Library (6000 N. Broadway). Zoom option available at . Anyone may submit written public comment by delivering it at the public meeting or by emailing it to [email protected].
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OEMC Winter Preparation Tips
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The Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC) encourages residents to be prepared for the Winter Season. Public safety is the top priority, and staying safe during the winter months requires taking steps now to winterize our homes and cars and prepare our families when the cold, wind, ice, and snow come our way. You can find the warming center nearest you by visiting the Warming Center Portal ()
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Sidewalk Shoveling Requirements
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As a reminder to all residents and businesses, per the Municipal Code of Chicago, . Many of our neighbors rely on walking and public transportation as their primary way to get around the city. Without a wide, clear path through the snow and ice, it makes it difficult for pedestrians (especially people with disabilities, seniors, and children) to walk to their destination safely.
If you have a neighbor who needs assistance clearing the sidewalk, pitch in to help out!
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Become an Election Judge for the March 17 Primary Election
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Are you interested in being a poll worker for the March 17, 2026, Midterm Primary Election? Go to to learn more and apply. You must be a US citizen and a registered voter in Cook County - and you can earn up to $230 for your service. If you are bilingual in Spanish, Chinese, Hindi, Polish, Korean or Tagalog, the Board of Elections is requesting your support. Do you know a high school junior or senior with a GPA above 3.0 and an interest in government? Let them know they can serve as an election judge and see how democracy works from behind the polling place curtain.
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DOH Emergency Heating Repair Program Now Available!
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The Chicago Department of Housing has launched its Emergency Heating Repair Program (EHRP), which offers income-eligible Chicagoland properties with repairs or replacement of their furnace or boiler. The property must be the homeowner’s primary, owner-occupied residence within the city of Chicago. Qualified contractors perform the work at no cost to the homeowner, with funding provided through the Department of Housing (DOH). For more information on eligibility and applying for the EHRP, call 311 or visit .
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2025 marks the 6th year that the Chatham Business Association (CBA) has been in partnership with ComEd. Their team of Community Energy Assistant Ambassadors (CEAAs) offers residents bill payment assistance & energy efficient programs for those who qualify, as well as tips on how to manage energy use. Check out these programs that the CBA offers! Please visit
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CEDA Utility Assistance Resources
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The Community and Economic Development Association of Cook County (CEDA) has provided us with resources for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)! Apply and reach out to their office for more questions.
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Access Supplemental Nutrition Programs through WIC CEDA
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If you are pregnant, a caregiver, or a mom with a child under 5, you can get access to supplemental nutrition programs through WIC CEDA (1516 W Howard). Reach out via phone at (773) 338-7334 or by email at [email protected].
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Choose The Theme For Artists of The Wall 2026
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The Loyola Park Advisory Council is beginning planning for Artists of the Wall 2026, and they need your help choosing this year’s theme!
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Individual Artists Program Grant Open
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Apply for a 2026 Individual Artists Program (IAP) grant to support your work or artistic practice through the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events! IAP grants support artists across all artistic disciplines, including Film & Media Arts, Literary Arts, Music, Performing Arts (Theater/Dance), and Visual Arts/Design. Learn more and apply by January 15, 2026, at .
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High Jump Applications Close January 20
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High Jump empowers Chicago middle schoolers to grow as well-rounded leaders through their 100% FREE academic enrichment program. High Jump offers unique experiences, valuable resources and supportive guidance for curious, motivated 7th and 8th graders who are ready to challenge themselves academically and personally. The deadline for current 6th graders to apply is January 20, 2026! You can do so
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Fight Like a Girl is a boxing and leadership development program that helps girls aged 10 and up build confidence, develop a growth mindset, and, build healthy habits. Participants will learn the fundamentals of boxing and how to transfer lessons from boxing into other areas of their lives. Fight Like a Girl is run by Box United, a nonprofit on a mission to help girls use boxing to build physical and mental well-being.
The following locations are free programs for all Chicago girls.
North Side: Rogers Park
- Mondays and Wednesdays from 3:30-5:30 PM
- : 1230 W Greenleaf Ave, Chicago, IL 60626
Sign up !
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Trilogy Winter Clothing Drive 2025
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Trilogy Behavioral Healthcare is accepting donations at their Winter Clothing Drive now through February 2026! You can drop off any gently used winter clothing at their building, located at 1400 W Greenleaf Ave.
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State Sen. Mike Simmons Mutual Aid Food Drive
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Senator Mike Simmons’ office is accepting donations of non-perishable food, reusable grocery bags, and new toiletries/diapers/cleaning supplies. Drop off donations Monday-Friday from 10 a.m. -3 p.m. at 1040 W Bryn Mawr. For questions, email s[email protected] or call 773-769-1717.
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Loyola University ICE Map Tracker Live!
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The Loyola Phoenix, the official student newspaper of Loyola University Chicago, has launched an ICE tracker where constituents can report ICE sightings in the ward. You can access the map and read more about using the map .
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Protecting Chicago Resources Available!
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As part of Mayor Johnson's Executive Order 2025-6 Establishing the Protecting Chicago Initiative, the Mayor's Office has launched the Protecting Chicago website, which can be found at: Protecting Chicago aims to make available information and resources that allow every resident—regardless of background, immigration status, or neighborhood—to live with safety, dignity, and peace of mind. This initiative is Chicago’s commitment to promote the well-being of our communities and to safeguard the rights of all Chicagoans.
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Opportunities to Volunteer for Our Office!
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Our office needs you! We have a variety of events coming up and will need your help! If you would like to help our office with tabling, flyering and upcoming events you can sign up to volunteer
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Help Senn High School Students With Work-Based Learning!
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Invest in the future of our community and connect with students at Senn High School! Senn is looking to connect our motivated students with local professionals for valuable work-based learning and career experiences.
We are compiling a directory of local professionals interested in:
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Speaking at career day events
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Mentoring students one-on-one
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Providing job shadow or internship opportunities (some students may be able to leave school up to two hours early for these experiences)
If you are eager to build partnerships and connect with talented students, please take a moment to share your interest through this quick form:
We look forward to helping students find success within our community. For questions, please reach out to Dr. Fink at [email protected]
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Volunteer to be a Partner In Learning Tutor/Mentor!
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Now recruiting volunteers for Family Matters' Partners in Learning one-to-one tutor/mentoring program!
Adult volunteer tutors/mentors meet with their individually matched youth partner for one 90-minute session per week. All experience levels are welcome. Program staff create a personalized lesson plan for every session, and all training and materials are provided.
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Connect with Your Elected Officials
Want to get connected with your other elected officials? Find links to sign up to their newsletters and website information below!
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Cook County:
State of Illinois:
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Federal Government:
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