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.
HEALTH INSURANCE
Americans still can sign up for Affordable Care Act health coverage through Tuesday, Dec. 15. Go to https://www.healthcare.gov/.
SUICIDE AND SOCIAL MEDIA
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention will hold a Research Connection event on Wednesday, Dec. 9, from noon to 1:30 p.m., in which an AFSP-funded researcher, Jackie Nesi, will present research about the role of social media in adolescents’ relationships and mental health. See afsp.org.
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].
A CASE OF THE GIGGLES
Local author Karen Bobos has written a rhyming illustrated children’s book targeting girls ages four through seven, entitled A Case of the Giggles, in which three young magical sisters journey to find someone who can help a princess’s laughing troubles. To purchase, look online or call (309) 397-3535 or email [email protected].
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].
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 catholiccharties.net, call (312) 655-7700, 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.
HOLIDAY MOVIES
ChiTown Movies is showing holiday drive-in movies every night in December at the drive-in located at 2343 S. Throop St. The drive-in offers a safe, family friendly holiday event as customers stay in their cars to watch a movie. Food service available. Call (312) 810-9551.
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.
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 attacks. 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 recently held its annual Celebration of Remembrance memorial Mass to honor memories of the departed.
Student Isabella LaCoco signed a letter of intent to play college volleyball at Western Illinois University.
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.
LAND OF SMILES
Illinois schools now can participate in a new virtual version of Delta Dental of Illinois Foundation’s Land of Smiles—the fun, educational program that teaches children in preschool through third grade about oral health care. To learn more about Land of Smiles, watch a preview, and request the virtual program, visit landofsmilesil.org. Interested teachers, school nurses, and principals can request access to the password-protected video on a date and time that works best for their school.
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.
SCHOLARSHIP AWARDED
Western Governors University recently surprised South Commons resident DeMonshay Galloway with a $2,500 Resiliency Scholarship, which assists students with unforeseen financial struggles presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. Galloway, a customer service representation for Micro Center, is pursuing a bachelor of science in cybersecurity and information assurance from WGU. Strategic Partnerships manager Patrick Devanney presented the scholarship virtually on behalf of WGU, which is located in Salt Lake City, UT.
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.
HARMONY NEWS
Harmony Community Church, 1908 S. Millard Ave., has converted its sanctuary into a community center for youth programs and events. The church offers reading, tutoring, fine art, music, and dance programs. It also has a food pantry, and church leaders hope to serve warm meals in the future. Call (773) 762-9673.
HR HOTSEAT
HRHotSeat Chicago is a free monthly online meetup of more than 1,600 human resources practitioners, service providers, students, and Chicago-area professionals 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.
CUTS AND BEATS
Hyde Park Art Center will host a solo exhibition, Cuts and Beats, by Chicago artist and educator Cecil McDonald Jr. from now 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.
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.
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.
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.
Call (312) 243-7400, email [email protected] or log on to www.olhfchi.org.
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.
RAOUL ROUNDUP
State Attorney General Kwame Raoul,along with representatives of 33 other states and the District of Columbia, announced a settlement with Apple regarding its decision to slow consumers’ iPhone speeds. Illinois will receive more than $3.4 million from Apple. For more information, log on to www.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov.
SHRINE NEWS
The Shrine of Our Lady of Pompeii will celebrate Mary and Christmas Saturday, Dec. 5, at 7 p.m. in a virtual musical program.
Rosa Mystica will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 8, at 6:30 p.m. Call (312) 534-5351 or email [email protected].
The shrine will host a virtual Advent morning of reflection Saturday, Dec. 12, from 10 a.m. to noon. The speaker will be Terry Nelson-Johnson, resident theologian and animator of faith at Old St. Patrick’s Church.
To register, contact Cathy Lentz at [email protected] or call (312) 421-3757. Freewill donations accepted.
The shrine is accepting candle intentions. See https://www.givecentral.org/location/78/event/26977. The shrine is at 1224 W. Lexington St. Call (312) 421-3757.
PENGUINS NAMED
Shedd Aquarium recently named its four newest penguin chicks, born earlier this year. They are Dee, Popi, Porter, and Sir Elio. The aquarium, located at 1200 S. Lake Shore Drive, is open, but visitors must buy a ticket ahead of time before visiting. Call (312) 939-2438 or log on to sheddaquarium.org.
SAINT IGNATIUS NEWS
Saint Ignatius College Prep students Ana Alonso, Malcolm Bevans, Viviana De Alba, Emanuel Demisse, Madeline Goldman, Paul Montes, and Nicole Onyemeziem were named National African American Recognition Students, scoring in the top 3.5% of students nationwide who identify as African American.
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
With the help of a three-year, $894,400 grant from the National Institutes of Health, University of Illinois Chicago social psychologist Sarah Ullman will lead a study aimed at better understanding how support processes from social networks affect rape victims’ adjustment, such as post-traumatic stress disorder, drinking, and relationship quality. Contact Ullman at [email protected].
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].