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 organizers have postponed or canceled events.
BENTON HOUSE INFO
At Benton House,3052 S. Gratten Ave., find out about public benefits such as supplemental nutrition assistance and citizenship application help. Call (773) 927-6420 or email [email protected].
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.
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 [email protected] or (312) 746-7291.
GET HELP
The Catholic Charities call center helps callers with a variety of needs and connects them toprograms within Catholic Charities or other agencies.
The organization offers meals to go at St. Vincent Center, 721 N. LaSalle St., Monday through Friday at 4 p.m. No pre-registration required.
Catholic Charities operates several food pantries.
A counseling/support hotline is available at (312) 948-6951. Catholic Charities also offers professional counseling at (312) 644-7725.
Log on to cahtoliccharties.net, call (312) 655-7700, or email [email protected].
CITY NEWS
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 ROUNDUP
De La Salle Institute chose senior Alexa Acevedo as Meteor of the Month.
Acevedo is enrolled in the Honors Program and ranks in the top 17% academically in the Class of 2021.
De La Salle will host personal open house tours on the Saturdays of Nov. 7 and 21. Call (312) 842-7355.
Women’s basketball player T.K. (Takiya) Howard will attend Murray State University in Murray, KY, while women’s volleyball player Franki (Francesca) Bertucci has chosen Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, IL.
De La Salle is at 3434 S. Michigan Ave. Call (312) 842-7355 or log on to www.dls.org.
LEGAL AID
First Defense Legal Aid, located at 5100 W. Harrison St., provides representation to people in custody, informs people of their rights, and organizes volunteers to help.
For more information, call (800) 529-7374.
FOOD PANTRIES
The following food pantries provide groceries and meals to those who need them.
Chosen Tabernacle Full Gospel, 4310 S. Champlain Ave., Thursday, 1 to 3 p.m., (888) 834-9414.
Church of St. Paul and the Redeemer, 4945 S. Dorchester Ave., Wednesday, 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., (773) 624-3185.
Hyde Park SDA Soup Kitchen, 4608 S. Drexel Blvd., Wednesday, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., (773) 373-2909.
Kenwood Oakland Community Organization, 4242 S. Cottage Grove Ave., Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., (773) 548-7500.
Kenwood UCC Soup Kitchen, 4608 S. Greenwood Ave., Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, 9:30 to 10 a.m. and noon to 1 p.m., (773) 373-2861.
Operation Pull Grant Memorial, 4017 S. Drexel Blvd., Tuesday, 1 to 3 p.m., (773) 285-5819.
GBMA HELP
Greater Bridgeport Mutual Aid, a network of more than 150 volunteers, has organized to provide free grocery delivery, direct people to resources and information through a telephone hotline, provide digital enrichment for students during remote learning, and do neighbor support check-ins. The network serves the Bridgeport, Chinatown, Armour Square, and Canaryville neighborhoods. Services are available in English, Spanish, Mandarin, and Cantonese. Request services on the group’s website at www.gbmachicago.org or by calling or texting the group’s hotline at (312) 818-1393. Donations are welcome by emailing GBMA through the organization’s website.
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.
HR HOTSEAT
HRHotSeat Chicagois a free monthly online meetup of more than 1,600 human resources practitioners, service providers, students, and Chicago-area profes-sionals 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.
PEOPLE
Congratulations to Gazette Chicago circulation staff member Jacob “Jake” Urbanowski and his wife, Karley, on the birth of their daughter, Charlette Rose, on Sep 30.
CUTS AND BEATS
Hyde Park Art Center will host a solo exhibition, Cuts and Beats, by Chicago artist and educator Cecil McDonald Jr. from Sunday, Nov. 15, through Sunday, March 7, 2021. The exhibition of photomontages, which includes superimposing modern photos over century-old sheet music, is designed to make viewers consider the complicated histories between America and African Americans and subvert racist representation of Black artists from history. The center is at 5050 S. Cornell Ave. Call (773) 324-5520 or log on to www.hydeparkart.org.
SPANISH COURSES
Instituto Cervantes is offering online Spanish courses. Also, the organization is open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Email [email protected] or log on to Chicago.cervantes.es.
BRONZE AFFAIR
The Kenwood Oakland Community Organization will hold its Bronze Affair virtual fundraiser on Saturday, Nov. 21, at 7 p.m. Purchase tickets by searching “bronze affair” at www.eventbrite.com.
FOOD DISTRIBUTION
The Travis Manion Foundation food distribution is moving to the fourth Saturday of the month. However, because of the Thanksgiving holiday, it will be held on the third Saturday in November, which is Nov. 21. The location will continue to be the First Immanuel Lutheran Church, 1124 S. Ashland Ave. Food will be distributed from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on a first-come-first-serve basis, while supplies last, in both drive-through and walk-up settings, while maintaining CDC guidelines on social distancing.
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.
MENTAL HEALTH
The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Chicago offers support groups and other resources for individuals who may need help. Call (833) 626-4244 or visit www.namichicago.org.
NMMA RECEIVES GRANT
The National Museum of Mexican Art received a $3.5 million Ford Foundation grant as part of an effort to help culturally diverse institutions survive coronavirus. The museum currently is closed because of the virus but is showing exhibitions online. It is located at 1852 W. 19th St. Log on to nationalmuseumofmexicanart.org or call (312) 738-1503.
PARK OFFICIAL CHAIRS NRPA
The National Recreation and Park Association, a parks and recreation advocate organization, recently announced its 2020-2021 board of directors. Longtime board member Michael P. Kelly, who serves as Chicago Park District general superintendent and CEO, now chairs the organization. Kelly is a graduate of DePaul College of Law in the South Loop. To learn more, visit www.nrpa.org.
OUR LADY OF THE HOLY FAMILY NEWS
Our Lady of the Holy Family,1334 W. Flournoy St., holds Sunday Masses at 9 a.m. in English and 11 a.m. in Spanish. Saturday evening Mass is at 5 p.m.; Mondays, Mass is at 6 p.m., followed by the Rosary; Tuesday through Thursday Masses are at 8 a.m. in the chapel at 1335 W. Harrison St.; and Friday mass is at 6 p.m. followed by adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and reconciliation service. Reservations required for weekend services.
The church has created a new parish pastoral council.
Call (312) 243-7400, email [email protected] or log on to www.olhfchi.org.
BOULEVARD NEWS
The Boulevard of Chicago at 3456 W. Franklin Blvd. provides medical respite care and housing services for homeless adults discharged from area hospitals. Call (773) 533-6013 or log on to www.blvd.org.
BUCKNER RESOURCES
Residents who want to share their thoughts or require assistance on coronavirus or any issue in the community can reach the office of State Rep Kam Buckner (D-26th) at (773) 924-1755 or by email at [email protected].
RAOUL ROUNDUP
State Attorney General Kwame Raoul is leading a coalition of 18 state attorneys general in opposing a proposed Federal Small Business Administration (SBA) rule governing the appeals process for Paycheck Protection Program loans. The rule is confusing for small businesses and puts borrowers at a disadvantage as they try to navigate appealing adverse SBA loan decisions, Raoul said. See www.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov.
Raoul and other state attorneys general announced a settlement with health insurance company Anthem Inc. stemming from a massive 2014 data breach that involved more than 78 million Americans’ personal information. Raoul’s office formed part of the executive committee negotiating the settlement, and Illinois will receive more than $1.7 million.
SHRINE NEWS
The Shrine of Our Lady of Pompeii will host its Veterans’ Day Mass, Saturday, Nov. 7, at 11 a.m.
The shrinewill host its fall spirituality seriesvia Zoom, led by the Rev. Richard N. Fragomeni, rector. EntitledFrom All Saints to Fourteen Holy Helpers, it will cover protectors from the past and intercessors for today on the Thursdays of Nov. 12 and 19, 7 to 8:30 p.m.
The shrine’s annual Mass of remembrance will be Sunday, Nov. 15.
Scripture scholar Dianne Bergant will speak on Pope Francis’s encyclical Fratelli Tutti on Zoom on Saturday, Nov. 21, from 10 a.m. to noon. In the encyclical, the Pope addresses the world’s failure to work together during the coronavirus crisis and calls for more human fraternity and solidarity and rejection of war.
Rosa Mystica is scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 8, at 6:30 p.m. Call (312) 534-5351 or email [email protected].
Attend an Advent day of reflection virtual retreat on Saturday, Dec. 12, 10 a.m. to noon, led by Terry Nelson-Johnson.
To register, contact Cathy Lentz at [email protected] or call (312) 421-3757. Freewill donations accepted.
The shrine is once again accepting candle intentions. See https://www.givecentral.org/location/78/event/26977. The shrine is at 1224 W. Lexington St. Call (312) 421-3757.
SAINT IGNATIUS NEWS
The Saint Ignatius College Prep Women’s Society will host an in-person holiday shopping event Saturday, Nov. 7, from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the school. Masks and social distancing required, and advanced registration required to obtain a shopping time slot. Log on to the school’s website or email [email protected].
The school is located at 1076 W. Roosevelt Rd. Log on to www.ignatius.org or call (312) 421-5900.
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.
UIC INFORMATION
The University of Illinois Chicago has received the 2020 Higher Education Excellence in Diversity Award from Insight Into Diversity magazine. UIC is one of 92 recipients. This is the fifth HEED award win for UIC, this time because of its continued dedication and leadership in fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion on campus and in the classroom, said Amalia Pallares, UIC’s associate chancellor and vice provost for diversity.
The university received an $8 million award from the Army Research Laboratory to support developing specialized sensors enabling drones to use different types of fuel. Researchers from the College of Engineering also will seek to advance hybrid-electric optimization, which has applications for commercial drones and other vehicle types.
UI Health surgeons performed the world’s first robotic-assisted double kidney removal, followed immediately by a living donor kidney transplant in a patient, Christopher Adamsick, 50, who needed treatment for severe polycystic kidney disease.
TAI CHI
Instructor Chad Koch of All in Motion offers tai chi every Sunday at 9 a.m. in Mary Bartelme Park, 115 S. Sangamon St. All in Motion is located at 112 S. Sangamon St. Log on to www.aimgymchicago.com.
HALSTED RESURFACING
The Chicago Department of Transportation will continue resurfacing Halsted Street from Archer Avenue to 16th Street through Monday, Nov. 30.
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.
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.
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.
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.org.
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.
SOCIAL HEALTH INITIATIVE
The Pilsen Social Health Initiative at 1850 S. Throop St. offers a food pantry, thrift store, and onsite social worker. See www.pilsensocialhealthinitiative.com/. Call (773) 812-3150.
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/.
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, ext. 4994. The center is at 140 N. Ashland Ave. Log on to www.womenstreatmentcenter.org.
Send news of events held “around the neighborhood” by the 15th of the month before the month they are to occur to William S. Bike, Around the Neighborhood, Gazette Chicago, 1335 W. Harrison St., Chicago, IL 60607-3318, fax (312) 243-4270, or email [email protected].