🎒🗓️ Save the date for our Back to School Fair!
Dear Neighbor,
I hope you are enjoying a safe, restful, and joyful summer. For information on food assistance, extreme weather preparedness, and fun, family-friendly activities happening across the city, I wanted to reshare a past newsletter before inviting you to another summer event!
As we start to prepare for the upcoming school year, Sen. Graciela Guzman and I are hosting our annual Back to School Fair on Saturday, August 15 with Northwest Center. Join us at Kelvyn Park, 4438 W Wrightwood Ave. from 10am to 1pm for free backpacks and school supplies, free haircuts for kids, healthcare services, community resources, and family activities. Please note that backpacks and school supplies will be given away on a first come, first serve basis, until we run out.
Additionally, Humboldt Park Health will be there with their pediatric dental van for dental checks and cleaning and to provide toothbrushes and hygiene kits. And the BlueCross BlueShield/Chicago Dept. of Public Health Care Van will be there to provide vaccinations. Walk-in patients will be accommodated as time permits, but appointments are strongly encouraged. To register for a vaccine appointment in advance, scan the QR code on our flyer or visit tinyurl.com/55h6ts9s.
Each year, we are incredibly grateful to have hundreds of Northwest Side families attend this event and help them plan for the new school year with a variety of resources and services. Hope to see you there!
All my best,
Will
Office Closure
Our office will be closed from Wednesday, July 8 through Friday, July 10 due to utility maintenance. We will be working remotely and available via phone and email.
Please contact us at (773) 853-2570 or at will@repguzzardi.com for assistance, and we will get back to you as soon as we can. Thank you!
Whistle Alert Response Network
Looking for a lower-risk way to help protect your neighbors from ICE?
The Northwest Side Rapid Response Network is launching a new neighborhood-based, people powered alert system. To join the Whistle Alert Response Network (WARN), download theTelegram app on your phone. Then, join the channel using this link.
How does WARN work? We are increasingly seeing ICE agents staking out our communities before they begin detaining people. As soon as our teams confirm the presence of agents/vehicles, we’ll send notice to the Whistle Alert Response Network (WARN) on Telegram.
When you get a WARN alert in your immediate area, go outside and walk around your block, blowing a whistle. This will warn at-risk neighbors that ICE is nearby.
Once you’ve warned your neighbors, get inside to safety BEFORE ICE activity begins. WARN is not rapid response; it complements the work that trained rapid responders are already doing by creating a lower-risk way for anyone in our community to proactively warn neighbors that immigration agents are in the area.
Only administrators can send messages to the WARN channel; administrators are all vetted and trained leads within Northwest Side Rapid Response Network.
Understanding the IL Freelance Worker Protection Act
On Wednesday, July 22, from 12 to 1:30pm, Lawyers for the Creative Arts and the Arts Alliance of IL are presenting a free webinar to discuss protections under the Illinois Freelance Worker Protection Act. The webinar will cover worker classification and the process of reporting violations to the IL Dept. of Labor. Learn more and register here.
Celebrating National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month
On Thursday, July 9, the Trina Davila Community Service Center, at 4312 North Ave. will be hosting a celebration for National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, and a multitude of resources will be available. Here’s the day’s schedule:
Community organizations will provide integrated mental health and support services resources and information from 1 to 4pm
Chicago Mobile Vet Center will be teaching veterans and their families about services and resources from 12:30 to 4pm
SNAP, Medicaid, and TANF application support will be available from 1 to 5pm
Northwest Side Community Development Corporation will provide housing and landfront/tenants’ rights information 9:30am to 2pm
Fresh Moves Mobile Market is available from 10:30am to 12pm
City of Chicago Public Health will be providing Covid, flu, and Pneumonia vaccines to children and adults.
Flood Damage Assessment Survey
The City of Chicago's Office of Emergency Management & Communications (OEMC) is reviewing calls for service into 3-1-1 from the severe thunderstorms from July 3 through July 4, 2026. 
As a supplemental reporting tool, OEMC is partnering with the Illinois Management Agency (IEMA) to compile additional information through a Residential Self-Assessment Survey. This supplemental information will help determine whether the City, along with partners at the Cook County Department of Emergency Management and Regional Security (CCEMRS) and IEMA can pursue any options for additional assistance for residents.  Fill out a survey here by the deadline on Tuesday, July 14.
The objective of this survey is to help State and local emergency management officials across Illinois identify and gain an understanding of damages that have occurred during recent natural disaster activity. Reporting damages to emergency management is a voluntary activity. It is not a substitute for reporting damage to your insurance agency and does not guarantee disaster relief assistance.
Completion of this survey does NOT guarantee or imply eligibility for financial assistance, aid, or funding of any kind. The information collected will be used strictly for assessment and planning purposes.