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City Stickers and Residential Parking Permit Enforcement Suspended and Will Not Begin Until August 1, 2010.
See July 9, 2010 Press Release Click here
Message from the
Third Ward

So far this summer has brought us some pretty crazy weather. As you can tell from the Third Ward Update, the last two storms to hit the area were particularly damaging and have kept utility and tree crews very busy. There are still over 300 work orders for tree and tree debris removal, so please be patient as they answer service calls as fast as they can.
Fortunately, the summer also brings many great events, several of which are free. Fireworks displays, the Taste of Chicago, Blues Festival, and Jazz Festival are just a few examples. However, there are many exciting events right here in the Third Ward including Movies in the Park, which will be held at Metcalfe Park and will show the movie Blindside on Tuesday, July 20,2010 at dusk. You can learn more about these types of events by reading through our newsletters or by stopping by our ward office at 5046 S. State St.
I wish everyone a very happy and safe Fourth of July!
July 2010 Newsletter Click here

April was another very busy month for the Third Ward. As I continue to go out into the community, I have been getting a lot of valuable input from residents regarding important issues like education, infrastructure, social services, crime, and other concerns. This helps me make decisions that reflect the needs of each Third Ward community. Specifically, I have been getting a lot of input regarding an important upcoming vote concerning Wal-Mart.
The National Association of Letter Carriers is having their 18th Annual Food Drive. This year's drive is hosted by Branch 11, which is located at 39th and Wabash. From now until May 8th, you can donate a bag of non-perishable food items by dropping them off at any Post Office in Chicago.
In this edition, you will find a lot of information about events and services in the ward, city, and county. Please take special notice in the Events, Services and Announcements section that the CHA's waiting list for public housing has reopened. I hope this and all of the other resources from these newsletters can provide assistance to our residents who need it. Please share with those who may not have access to the internet.
May 2010 Newsletter Click here
Academy of Urban School Leadership/Phillips High School Community Meeting
Chicago Public Schools has awarded the contract for the turnaround of Phillips High School to the Academy of Urban School Leadership (AUSL). Last February, Alderman Dowell hosted a community meeting to provide a forum for community concerns and input before the Board of Education vote. As a result, several conditions were put forth by Alderman Dowell that were agreed upon by CPS. One of those conditions was the establishment of the Phillips Oversight Committee, which is made up of several members of the community, educators, CPS officials, a parent, and a student (see May newsletter for more details). The committee has had several meetings and is working hard to ensure that turnaround of Phillips High School is successful through localized expertise and by holding AUSL accountable for this endeavor.
This month, AUSL would like to hold another community meeting in order to answer questions regarding their turnaround process and strategy and let you know what to expect in the coming months and years. Alderman Dowell will also be present to speak about the process and all the steps she has taken to make sure that it truly benefits the students at Phillips High School and the surrounding community.
Where: Apostolic Faith Church (3823 S. Indiana)
When: Tuesday, May 25th at 6pm
Job Fair
Hosted by the 6th Police District Chicago Police Department
Invited Employers:
Illinois State Treasurer, Social Security, PACE IL, Chicago Women in Trades, TCF Bank, Comcast, UnitedHealthcare, Harris Bank, Health First Medical Supply, IBEW #4, Bank of America, Park National Bank, UPS, Vita, 311, Crawford Broadcasting,
Dept. of Streets & Sanitation, United Road Services, Goodwill ,Hinckley, Frito Lay, Mercy Hospital, Society of Women Engineers, Cook County Bureau of Human Resources and many more.
Contact: Theresa Hubbard 708.527.0937
When: Thursday, May 20, 2010 1:00 pm to 6:00pm
Where: 7859 South Ashland - AFC Community Center
Chicago, Illinois 60621
MANIFEST URBAN ARTS FESTIVAL COLUMBIA COLLEGE
Experience Manifest. Columbia College Chicago's urban arts festival celebrates the next generation of artists and creative professionals.
Manifest is an urban arts festival celebrating the work and creativity of Columbia students. Each year it attracts an audience of students, faculty, staff, parents, friends, alumni, patrons, donors, industry professionals, neighborhood residents, and the Chicago arts community. The festival is free and open to the public and features music, exhibitions, screenings, presentations, performances, and much more! For more information click on the link below.
Columbia College Manifest
When: Friday, May 14, 2010
5-7 p.m.
Where: 9th and Wabash
FREE LEGAL CLINIC
Street Justice Inc., in conjunction with Chicago Black United Communities is offering a free legal clinic. Legal areas include, but are not limited to wills, divorces, foreclosures, criminal law, child support and other Criminal and Civil matters.
When: Saturday May 15, 2010
10 am - 2:00 pm
Where: 330 E. 37th Street
For more information please call 312.217.9656 or 773.385.8081
Free Financial Education Classes
The South Side Community Federal Credit Union
Classes on finanical literacy are being offered through the months of May and June at the South Side Community Federal Credit Union.
Where: 5401 S. Wentworth Avenue, Suite 25
Contact: Harlette Smith Washington 773.549.8859 ext. 14 for more information.
CONTRACTING OPPORTUNITY
The Public Building Commission is sponsoring a Networking Session on Friday, May 14, 2010 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon as part of the PBC's "Building Community" initiative. The purpose of the Session is to provide an overview of the Job Order Contracting (JOC) Program and the Southwest Area High School Project, introduce the General Contractors to the sub-contractor and supplier community, identify potential subcontracting opportunities and provide a forum for the PBC's Pre-Qualified General Contractors to meet the many interested subcontractors and suppliers.
The Session will be held at Dawson Technical Institute which is located at 3901 S. State Street. A tour of the facilities will begin at 9:00 a.m., the Informational Program will be held at 10:00 a.m. and the Networking Session will be held between 10:30 a.m. and 12:00 noon.
The PBC's goal is to engage as many certified M/WBE subcontractors for the JOC Program as possible. To facilitate this goal, the PBC will have booths at the Session for each of the Pre-Qualified General Contractors and JOC Contractors to display their company information and meet with each of the interested subcontractors.
When : Friday May 14, 2010 , 9:00 a.m. - 12:00p.m.
Where : Dawson Technical Institute 3901 S. State Street
As the weather gets warmer, you will be seeing more and more construction projects throughout the ward and the city. Please be mindful of worker safety and use extra caution. As you will see from reading this newsletter, last month was another busy time for the Third Ward Team. We are continuing our efforts to reach out to the community to receive input and update on the status of education, development, public safety, and other issues that impact Third Ward residents. Please take a few minutes to complete and return your 2010 Census form. This is the best way to make sure the Third Ward has the resources to meet the future needs of our residents. On April 10th, I will be hosting the Third Ward Resource Fair. Over 30 community organizations will be there to inform residents about various resources that are available to them right here in the Third Ward. See the Events in and Around the Third Ward section of the newsletter or call my office at (773) 373-9273 for more details. We hope to see you there!
April 2010 Newsletter Click here
When I was campaigning, one of the promises I made was to increase public access to their Alderman. In addition to answering and returning e-mails and phone calls, I do this by hosting Town Hall and other community meetings, having ward nights every Thursday from 6-8pm, and by attending all CAPS meetings in the Third Ward. I expect that this same level of transparency, accountability, and public input be applied to all levels of government. As I listened to concerned parents, teachers, students, and community members regarding CPS's recent school actions, it became apparent to me that these things were relatively absent in CPS's school closing policy. As you read this newsletter, you will learn about some of the actions I, along with some of my colleagues have taken to help remedy these problems.
As always, I hope that you will also find information about events and services that will be useful to you and your neighbors. Please pass along this information. I hope to see you at the March 18th Town Hall Meeting.
March 2010 Newsletter Click here
Happy Holidays,
2009 was a historic and busy year. Historic because of the election of our first African-American President and busy because the economy is still slowly recovering, which has created a greater need for resources and services within very limited budgetary constraints. As you review the actions my office has taken throughout last year, I hope it becomes apparent that we have been doing everything we can to address the many needs of our Third Ward residents and make improvements to quality-of-life issues. Additionally, I have taken a number of measures to increase accountability and transparency at all levels of city government. Together with community members, I will continue this work throughout 2010 and beyond.
I know this edition of the newsletter is comparably long, but I wanted to not only provide a retrospect of last year, but inform Third Ward residents of the work we continue to do and the resources and services that are available to them. As much as we have accomplished together in 2009, I know that 2010 will be an even more successful year towards making the Third Ward stronger. I wish everyone a safe and happy new year.
January 2010 Newsletter Click here
As the holiday season and colder weather approach, we should be extra mindful of those in need and thankful for what we have. In the Third Ward,we are blessed with many wonderful residents, a rich cultural history, new developments, new jobs, improving schools, and several outstanding police officers which are all important elements of a healthy community. The effects of the recession can still be felt in all of these areas so we must continue to work together to secure and effectively utilize needed resources. As you read through this edition of the newsletter, you will see that several people and organizations have and continue to generously offer their time organizing, training, and volunteering for a number of initiatives that benefit the ward. Some of these services will help those who are in need during the holiday season. However, many of those people will not have access to this information. So I ask that you help spread the word about the resources that are available in the Third Ward. I wish everyone a very happy Thanksgiving!!!
November 09 Newsletter Click here
As you can read in the Third Ward Update section of this newsletter, this summer was very busy and productive for our ward. In addition to introducing significant pieces of legislation to increase transparency and accountability regarding the City's business practices, we have garnered community input on several issues, particularly public safety and development. Consequently, we have continued implementing strategies, developing partnerships, and disseminating information about resources specifically to deal with these issues.
The most important tool for improving quality of life issues is to be organized and informed. I am looking for individuals who are committed to the improvement of their neighborhoods to join Team Dowell and become Community Block Club Captains. This volunteer position involves distributing information to your block from the Third Ward office and relaying the concerns and ideas of your neighbors to my office. If you are interested, please contact India Winbush at (773) 373-9273.
As always, I ask that you share the information and resources in our newsletter with those who may not already be on the mailing list or who are unable to read it for other reasons. Together, we will continue to move forward and make the Third Ward the best it can be. September 09 Newsletter Click here

Members of the community made a hugh difference in the lives of our students, donating school supplies and time to our Third Annual Back-to-School Extravaganza. Considering the current economy and the fact that there are a significant number of homeless children attending school in the Third Ward, we received a great number of donations. I also encourage you to participate in community and CAPS meetings to ensure the stability of our community.
Along with seven of my City Council colleagues, I traveled to China from August 3rd to August 10th to study the impacts of the 2008 Summer Games and ways we can maximize the benefits of Chicago’s 2016 bid. This gave us an opportunity to make connections and build bridges with our Chinese counterparts.
August 09 Newsletter Click here

Garfield Boulevard Planning Meeting
Just a quick reminder that this meeting is taking place this Tuesday. In conjunction with 20th Ward Alderman Willie Cochran, Alderman Dowell is co-hosting this meet that is designed as a means for you to provide input on the vision for the "Garfield Boulevard Study Area". You can share information about community needs, current conditions, and future projects. The Study Area consists of the Washington Park area between MLK Drive and Western Avenue. The sub-study area is centered around Garfield Boulevard from MLK to Stewart. We hope to see you there.
When: July 14, 2009 from 6:30pm to 8pm
Where: City Church of Chicago (5501 S. LaSalle)
Dear Third Ward Resident,
June was certainly a busy month for the Third Ward. We held a very
informative and successful Safety and Security Town Hall meeting where attendees learned valuable tips to protect themselves and their community from burglary. We also had a great time at the BK/FamFest where residents were treated to great music, art, and family-oriented activities. Additionally, we were able to distribute over 150 city parking stickers at our office’s event on June 20th. More community events are scheduled throughout the summer and I hope you will be able to continue utilizing these local resources and businesses. Have a happy and safe 4th of July.
July 09 Newsletter Click here

There are a lot of events and services available in the month of May and I hope you and your friends, family, and neighbors can take advantage of them. In this edition, you can find important updates on the swine flu as well as resources for education, youth services, food, housing, and other social services. As we work to make improvements to the ward and the weather gets warmer, there will be an increase in construction projects. So please be mindful of worker safety as you drive by. I am excited to welcome several new businesses to the ward that will help stimulate the local economy and provide jobs to people in our community. As always, I ask that you share these resources with anyone you know who may benefit from them, but may not have access to the internet.
May 09 Newsletter Click here
I can not think of a better way to usher in Black History Month 2009 than with the inauguration of our country's first African-American President. It was truly a historical event of great significance to people from all walks of life. President Obama's roots in community organizing have not been forgotten as he consistently asks for our help in building great communities like the ones in the 3rd Ward. I encourage you to get involved with some of the activities as well as take advantage of the resources listed in this edition of the newsletter. Change is in the air, but it begins with us!
February 09 Newsletter Click here

Congratulations to
President Barack Obama
on this historical day! As President Obama stated in his inaugural address, "For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies." I hope the information in this e-mail will provide you with a few local resources to answer his call to action. In this spirit, I ask that you spread the word about important events and resources within our community to those who may not be able to receive these updates. As we enter this new era, I look forward to continuing my work with you.
View Upcoming 09 Events Click here
With the economic situation and the foreclosure crisis, 2008 was a particularly difficult year for many of our residents. In Chicago, the percentage of foreclosures ranged from a decrease of 6.8% to an increase of 186.4% with the 3rd Ward being slightly below the average by showing an increase of 40.1%. Still, this is a significant number and thankfully, there are organizations and individuals in the 3rd Ward who care enough to help by donating basic necessities and/or their time. The 2008 year in review contains many examples of how working together as a community makes the 3rd Ward a better place to live and do business. Being the eyes and ears of our community means that my office can better handle crime-related issues as well as other concerns such as vacant buildings and educational improvement. These are all difficult, but necessary tasks for which I ask continued support from the community. If you are interested in volunteering to do some clerical work for my office or want to get involved with one of our committees related to pets, seniors, the Olympics, and/or special events, please contact us at (773) 373-9273. I wish everyone a happy new year and am looking forward to continuing our work together in 2009.
Happy Holidays,
Pat Dowell,
Alderman, 3rd Ward
As summer officially begins, there are an increasing number of events and projects taking place in our ward. As always, I do my best to keep you informed with the hope that our residents will be able to utilize social services, be aware of developments that may affect them, and enjoy the summer activities we have scheduled.
Full July Newsletter Click here
Law Enforcement Testing
Uniformed Division Officer - Police Officer Selection Test (Post)
REGISTRATION REQUIRED
Saturday, April 12, 2008
U.S. Secret Service Chicago Field Office
525 W. Van Buren Street, 9th Floor
Chicago, IL 60607
To obtain registration information, visit our website at
www.secretservice.gov/join or call 312-469-1205
