By William S. Bike
Editor’s note: At press time, future events listed in Around the Neighborhood still were scheduled, but changes are happening on a daily basis due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Check websites or call before going out in case events have been postponed or canceled.
ART INSTITUTE NEWS
The Art Institute of Chicago is scheduled to present the exhibition Monet and Chicago during the summer through Monday, Sept. 7, at 111 S. Michigan Ave. Log on to www.artic.edu.
CDS, UIC HELP AREA HOSPITALS
The Chicago Dental Society and its members donated thousands of personal protective equipment items and disinfecting supplies to front-line health care workers in this area in response to the coronavirus pandemic, in an effort organized by Clark Stanford, DDS, dean of the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry and Terri Tiersky, DDS, president of the CDS. UIC College of Dentistry student volunteers collected most of the equipment to bring back to UIC, which then distributed the supplies among the four hospitals in the Illinois Medical District in Chicago: University of Illinois Hospital, John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County, Rush University Medical Center, and Jesse Brown VA Medical Center.
SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE
The Chicago Department of Family and Support Services reports that Community Services Block Grant Scholarships are available for those enrolled or planning to enroll in college or vocational training. Contact Jenny Schuler at j[email protected] or (312) 746-7291.
HISTORY SHOWS
Richie Zie, host of the Chicago History & Automotive Heaven TV and radio show podcast, has produced television segments about historic Chicago churches, auto, motorcycle, and fire museums; a TV show about a bicycle shop operated in Chicago since 1910 with the same family; Paws Chicago; and a segment about angels. There are over 100 radio shows on Chicago history at www.richiezie.com, or go to Richiezie on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
NURSE CONSORTIUM NEWS
The Chicago Bilingual Nurse Consortium helps foreign-educated nurses attain licensure in Illinois.
National Council Licensure Examination predictor tests are available to demonstrate probability of passing the nursing exam.
The organization’s website at www.chicagobilingualnurse.org also lists jobs available for nurses. For more information, call (773) 838-1870.
PARK DISTRICT NEWS
The Chicago Park District is partnering with the Illinois Soybean Association to produce hand sanitizer to help mitigate the spread of coronavirus among the district’s workforce and City first responders. Park District staff and other professionals who continue to perform essential functions during the State’s stay at home order are using the hand sanitizer. The ISA is contributing to the effort by helping secure raw materials and packaging needed for production. For more about the Park District, visit www.chicagoparkdistrict.com or call (312) 742.PLAY or (312) 747.2001 (TTY).
RENTAL ASSISTANCE
City of Chicago emergency rental assistance is available for people suffering financial hardship. Call 311 or use a search engine to find City of Chicago Family & Support Services online.
GET ORGANIZED
Community Organizing and Family Issues, 2245 S. Michigan Ave., (312) 226-5141, organizes and trains parents to win improvements in schools and communities and in how to create organizations and programs. See cofionline.org.
CMI RESOURCES
The Crisis Management Institute (CMI) works with schools and parents after a tragedy, such as a shooting or national event like the Sept. 11, 2001. To deal with issues related to coronavirus, the CMI launched several websites. One has resources for school counselors, counselors.cmionline.com; a second is for parents, parents.cmionline.com; and a third serves children and their parents, resources-for-kids-during-covid19. Parents can access several children’s books by Marla Koch to help children deal with quarantine by using the resources tab of the parents’ website. For more information, log on to www.cmionline.org or call (503) 585-3484.
DE LA SALLE NEWS
The De La Salle Institute robotics team recently competed at the 2020 Midwest Regional First Robotics Competition held at Credit Union 1 Arena on the campus of the University of Illinois at Chicago. De La Salle participants numbered 23 students, with the Meteors finishing 40th in the 54-team field. Representing De La Salle were: Adam Creighton, Andres Cuevas, Victor DeAvila, Matthew Dixon, Xochitl Duron, Joel Flores, Michael Gallagher, Soley Gevorgiz, Branden Goeden, Sebastian Gutierrez, Paul Harden, Enrique Herrera, Asata Hodari, Dakota Huff-Brand, Cameron Laviste, Miriam Lopez, Christian Meyer, Ashley Naveja, Sofia Podszus, Felicity Sierra, Lukas Sonntag, Jalen Tucker, and Isaiah Washington.
Emily McManus was chosen Meteor of the Month.
Students TaKiya (TK) Howard and Janiece Dawson were chosen to the 2019-20 All-Girls Catholic Athletic Conference White Division Team in girls’ basketball.
Students, faculty, and staff have launched the What We Can Do to Make a Difference initiative to help during the coronavirus pandemic. De La Salle participants are donating food, money, and blood. For example, the Brogan family held a giving day, loading up one of its family vehicles to deliver bags filled with food to the Friendship Center, a food bank with two locations.
De La Salle is located at 3434 S. Michigan Ave. Call (312) 842-7355.
BIOETHICS AND COVID-19
DePaul University will host a virtual program for alumni, A Bioethicist Talks about COVID-19, on Thursday, May 14, at 5 p.m., featuring bioethicist Craig Klugman. Register at [email protected] or call (800) 437-1898.
LOCAL CHAPTER HONORED
The Chicago Downtown chapter of Ducks Unlimited,the world’s largest nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving North America’s waterfowl habitats, received the organization’s President’s Elite award for raising between $100,000 and $250,000 to protect waterfowl. For more information, visit www.ducks.org.
FUNDING FOR GOVERNMENTS
Illinois’s U.S. Senators Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth announced Illinois will receive $4.9 billion in state and local stabilization funds from the Coronavirus Relief Fund established by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to help offset significant increased costs that state and local governments are facing from the coronavirus pandemic. The CARES Act’s Coronavirus Relief Fund allows state and local governments with more than 500,000 residents to apply directly to the U.S. Treasury Department for cash infusions. The City of Chicago and Cook County will receive funding.
LEGAL DEFENSE
First Defense Legal Aid, 5100 W. Harrison St., provides representation to people in custody, informs people of their rights, and organizes volunteers to help.
For more information, call (773) 434-4162.
GLESSNER TOURS
After the State and City lift stay-at-home directives, explore architecture, history, and design at Glessner House, 1800 S. Prairie Ave. Tours will be offered Wednesday through Sunday at 11:30 a.m., 1 p.m., and 2:30 p.m. In the meantime, take a virtual tour or, for information, visit GlessnerHouse.org.
GWTP JOB TRAINING
Greater West Town Partnership, 500 N. Sacramento Blvd., offers job placement and training programs in wood products manufacturing and shipping and receiving. Call (312) 563-9570.
LOW-COST INTERNET
Internet Essentials makes it possible for people receiving public assistance to qualify for low-cost internet service. Log on to internetessentials.com.
HOLY FAMILY-NOTRE DAME NEWS
While Masses are suspended due to coronavirus through the Easter season, Holy Family-Notre Dame Parish will offer Sunday Masses on the parish Facebook page at 10 a.m. Office hours are suspended. Email [email protected] for more information.
HR HOTSEAT
HRHotSeat Chicagois a free monthly online meetup of more than 1,600 human resources practitioners, service providers, students, and Chicago-area pro-fessionals in job transition who come together to expand networks and solve problems. Visit www.HRHotSeat.com or email [email protected] for a calendar of upcoming events.
GIVE BLOOD
The Illinois Coalition of Community Blood Centers encourages people to give blood. Contact Vitalant at www.vitalant.org or (877) 258-4835 to schedule a donation time. For more information, log on to www.illlinoisbloodcenters.com.
LADIES OF VIRTUE
Ladies of Virtue,1245 S. Michigan Ave., (877) 565-7121, provides mentoring and leadership and empowering experiences, including help with school applications, for girls ages nine through 18 from underserved communities. Log on to lovchicago.org.
LATINO UNION
Latino Union of Chicago collaborates with low-income workers to improve their social and economic conditions through employment opportunities. Log on to latinounion.org or call (312) 491-9044. For those looking to hire workers, call (773) 588-2641.
RENTERS’ SERVICES
The Lawyers Committee for Better Housing provides eligible renters with supportive services and free legal aid. The LCBH also offers Rennie the Chatbot at rentervention.com to help with people’s housing problems. The LCBH is located at 33 N. LaSalle St. Call (312) 347-7600 or log on to www.lcbh.org.
MERCY NEWS
Mercy Home for Boys & Girls seeks adults to be mentors for youngsters. Learn more at MercyHome.org/ChicagoGazette.
Mercy needs groceries to help the more than 60 families that have come to the organization for help during the crisis. To donate groceries or a gift card, drop off at 1100 W. Jackson St. in the north parking lot at Jackson and Aberdeen Street on Mondays and Tuesdays between 9 a.m. and noon.
Call (312) 738-7560 or log on to www.mercyhome.org.
BLOOD NEEDED
Vitalant, the Chicago area’s largest blood center, is facing an emergency need for blood and platelets. To donate, visit vitalant.org or call (877) 258-4825.
EMPOWERING LATINAS
Mujeres Latinas en Accion empowers Latinas through service and advocacy. Their domestic violence crisis hotline is (312) 738-5358 and their rape crisis hotline is (888) 293-2080. Mujeres is located at 2124 W. 21st Pl. Call (773) 890-7676.
IMMIGRANT JUSTICE
The National Immigrant Justice Center, 224 S. Michigan Ave., provides comprehensive legal services to low-income immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers. It will continue to do intakes over the phone during the coronavirus crisis. Call (312) 660-1370 or log on to www.immigrantjustice.com.
INTERNET COURSES
Public Narrative,600 S. Michigan Ave., offers courses in various locations on topics including social media, communication plans, podcasting, search engine optimization, and analytics. Call (312) 369-6400.
CRIME VICTIM ASSISTANCE
Attorney General Kwame Raoul’s Crime Victims Services Bureau helps those dealing with the effects of crime. Call (800) 228-3368.
SHRINE NEWS
The Shrine of Our Lady of Pompeii is posting a novena daily during the coronavirus pandemic at www.ourladyofpompeii.org/special-covid-19-novena/.
The shrine is at 1224 W. Lexington St. Call (312) 421-3757 or log on to www.ourladyofpompeii.org.
SAINT IGNATIUS NEWS
Saint Ignatius College Prep’s 34th Annual Golf Classic is scheduled for Wednesday, June 17, at Cog Hill, featuring golf, food, and prizes. Proceeds will go to the school’s Tuition Assistance Program. Call (312) 432-8403 or email [email protected]
The school is located at 1076 W. Roosevelt Rd.
CONTACT ROBINSON
State Representative Lamont J. Robinson (D-5th) wants to hear what residents think are the most important issues in the community. Contact him at (773) 924-4614 or at his office at 5048 S. Indiana Ave.
TRAUMA HELPLINE
The toll-free TURN Trauma Counseling Helpline,(833) TURN123, operates from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. TURN stands for The Urban Resilience Network, and the helpline assists those experiencing trauma caused by exposure to violence. The organization also provides trained ambassadors to visit community events and schools to educate about trauma.
BUSINESS ASSISTANCE
If your business has experienced substantial economic injury due to the coronavirus pandemic, the U.S. Small Business Association is authorized to issue assistance through a small business economic injury disaster loan program. This program can provide low interest loans of up to $2 million to businesses and private non-profits. See https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/.
SUMMERLAB
The University of Chicago Laboratory Schools will host Summer Lab, Monday, June 22, through Friday, July 31, featuring a day camp, theatre training, summer school, sports, dance, and recreation. Log on to SummerLab.org.
UIC INFO
University of Illinois at Chicago undergraduate student Lopa Bhatt, a junior majoring in physics and mathematics in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, earned a prestigious Goldwater Scholarship from the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence Foundation.
The University of Illinois College of Medicine and Vanda Pharmaceuticals are partnering to develop an antiviral drug to fight the coronavirus. Bellur S. Prabhakar, professor of microbiology and senior associate dean for research in the College of Medicine, is leading the project.
This year, 192 medical students graduated early to help meet the growing demand for physicians during the coronavirus pandemic.
HIV+ WOMEN
The Women’s Treatment Center offers free assistance with online applications for enrollment into the Illinois Ryan White Part B Program for HIV+ women. Call (312) 850-0050, x4994. The center is at 140 N. Ashland Ave. Log on to www.womenstreatmentcenter.org.