Dear Neighbors,
As we hopefully begin to see some Springtime weather, I wanted to wish you and your family a Chag Passover Sameach, Happy Easter or Ramadan Mubarak.
This month our office is hosting a donation drive to support Ukrainian refugees, a virtual town hall about combating antisemitism, and an end of session town hall alongside Senator Laura Fine.
As always, If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to my office.
Sincerely,
Representative Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz
Combating Antisemitism Town Hall 4/20
Join us on April 20th, from 6-7pm for an event we are co-hosting with Senator Laura Fine’s office, to discuss ways to combat antisemitism both locally, statewide, and on social media. Speakers will include Rabbi Zvi Engel from Or Torah in Skokie, Alison Pure-Slovin from the Simon Wiesenthal Center and Stephanie Seweryn from the Anti-Defamation League. RSVP to our Facebook event HERE and for the virtual event HERE.
End of Session Town Hall 5/11
Our End of Session Town Hall will take place on May 11, from 6-7pm at the Glenview Public Library. Hear from myself and Senator Laura Fine about what legislation was passed in the 2022 session, changes to the budget, and have an opportunity to ask questions and propose future legislative ideas. RSVP for the in-person event HERE.
Mortgage Assistance
April is Fair Housing Month! The Illinois Homeowner Assistance Fund (ILHAF) is now open. ILHAF is a mortgage assistance program available for homeowners impacted by Covid-19, and the application window is open until May 31st. There is a lot of paperwork associated with applying for this program, and Open Communities in Evanston can help. Click HERE to schedule an appointment with a housing counselor.
Support for Ukraine and Updates
As the war in Ukraine persists, Governor Pritzker has approved $30 million in the budget for Refugee resettlement, an increase of $10 million from last year, to assist Ukrainian families arriving in Illinois.
In partnership with RefugeeOne and the Ukrainian Medical Association of North America (UMANA), our office will be collecting donations for Ukraine through April 29th. You can drop items off at 1812 Waukegan Rd in Glenview from 9am-5pm, Mon-Fri. Please ring the doorbell when you arrive, and one of us will come to assist.
District Shout Out
The Illinois Holocaust Museum in Skokie got a shout out in NPR for their exhibit “The Journey Back: A VR Experience,” which debuted in January 2022. The exhibit allows you to enter the world of, and sometimes to interact with, Holocaust survivors, most of whom are now in their 80s or 90s. This marks the first time that virtual reality technology has been used to archive and share survivor stories in Auschwitz, Mauthausen, and Ebensee. If you’re interested in seeing the exhibit, kids and students visit free now through April 17th. Get tickets HERE.
Events and Opportunities
- April 22nd is Earth Day and April 29th is Arbor Day. Check out Your Role in a Litter Free Community at Glenview Public Library, Tuesday, April 26th from 7-8:30pm to learn about the impacts of litter and the role of policy with Friends of the Chicago River. Sign up HERE.
- Glenview Resident Open House provides an opportunity to learn everything about Glenview in one place. Enjoy refreshments, get a library card, make crafts, and speak with Representatives from the Village of Glenview, Glenview Park District, Glenview Public Library, Glenview Chamber of Commerce, Northfield Township, and NorthShore University HealthSystem Medical Group-Glenbrook Medical West from 9-11:30am at the Park Center (2400 Chestnut Ave) on April 23rd. More details HERE.
- Skokie Library will be hosting a number of events in May for Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month. Check out their first two events: “Why AAPI History Matters” on May 7th, from 1-2pm and “Back to the Yellow Peril: The Historic ‘Othering’ of Asian Americans through Laws” on May 10th, from 7-8pm. Register for both HERE.