This initiative by the Public Health Institute of Metropolitan Chicago (PHIMC) seeks to advance health justice and strengthen public health in the state.

Purpose: The NOFO seeks proposals from eligible organizations to participate in the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) Transgender and Gender Diverse (TGD) Wellness and Equity Program.

Goals: The program aims to increase the capacity of organizations to provide culturally and/or medically competent gender-affirming care for TGD/LGBTQ+ populations across Illinois. It also involves recruiting, training, and managing regional Healthcare Navigation Specialists.

Funding Categories: Capacity Building (Continuous Funding or One-Time Funding) and Healthcare Navigation Specialists.

Funding Amount: Approximately $1.5 million across IDHS-identified regions in Illinois.

Important Dates:

Bidders’ Conference: Friday, February 9, 2024

 

Deadline for submitting questions: Friday, February 23, 2024
Deadline to apply: Friday, March 1, 2024

LEARN MORE AT PHIMC

 

overhead view of the apartment buildings that burned in the fire on 11-30-23.

Yesterday, nearly 100 of our neighbors in West Chicago became homeless due to a large fire consuming their homes. The support in the community is immense, with over 40 representatives of organizations present on calls to organize the followup to the first responses from West Chicago Fire Protection District,   West Chicago Police Department, and the Red Cross of Illinois.

Thank you to WeGo Together for Kids for coordinating donations and to New Hope Methodist Church for jumping in immediately and receiving donations for these displaced families and to all the community organizations that are supporting and will continue to support these neighbors in the coming weeks.

Donations Needed:

Monetary donations are needed and welcomed. Anything donated at this link between now and Dec 31 will go toward the fire victims (no need to choose a fund).

Clothing donations CLOSED at this time- please consider a monetary donation or check back if additional items are needed.

The following items are needed for victims of the Main Park Apartments fire. ONLY these items. Please do NOT donate summer clothing, shoes, etc. Families are homeless and have very limited space to store items.
Donations can be dropped off at New Hope Methodist Church, 643 E Washington, West Chicago, 9am-4pm.

NEW

Men’s underwear (boxer briefs): size S-2XL
Women’s underwear size S-XL
Children’s underwear all sizes
Socks for all genders

GENTLY USED

Sweatpants: Men’s size S-2XL, Women’s size S-XL, Kids all sizes
Sweatshirts and warm tops: Men’s size S-2XL, Women’s size S-XL, Kids all sizes
Men’s shoes: Sizes 7, 7.5, 8.5, 9, 9.5, 13
Women’s shoes: Sizes 6-9 fulfilled
Kids’ shoes: all sizes
Bras: preferably sports bra type in all sizes

Follow WeGo Together for Kids for the most up-to-date info on donations needed.

Get the Facts, Engage, Make your voice heard-IL Redistricting

I’m working to make local voices heard in the redistricting process.

IL Redistricting process: Upcoming hearings in our area

The House Redistricting Committee wants to hear from youThe House Redistricting Committee will hold three hearings in our area to hear from people in our community about demographic changes in our area and communities with similar needs. 

April 5 – Elgin (virtual) – 5:30pm

April 8 – West DuPage (virtual) – 3:00pm

April 9 – Aurora (In-person) – 4:00pm

Aurora City Hall, 44 East Downer Place
info & create witness slip on ilga.gov

There are 2 steps if you wish to submit written testimony or to speak before the committee (oral testimony): 

  1. Create a witness slip by clicking the info link above for the appropriate hearing, then clicking ‘Create Witness Slips’- fill out the form (use ‘Self’ in the fields for firm/organization unless you are representing a specific organization), and choose ‘oral’ or ‘written’ depending on the testimony you would like to share.
  2. Email RedistrictingCommittee@hds.ilga.gov – include date & region of hearing – and either your written testimony attached as a pdf file (YourName.pdf), or a brief description of the oral testimony you wish to share and your contact information.

Other Ways to Participate

Draw your District Maps

Visit The Illinois House Dems Redistricting Site for information on all the hearings around the state, to draw your own redistricting map, for information on the maps from the 2011 redistricting, and, most importantly, for information on citizen participation in this process.