ANNOUNCEMENTS

The following resources and updates are from ACT members or working partners:

• Austin Coming Together (ACT) has been named 2022 Nonprofit of the Year! We were selected as a finalist for YNPN's annual award and announced to be the winner on June 8. Thanks to everyone who voted for us! Learn more here.
• Metro Chicago 2-1-1 Info Sessions, held by United Way. This series provides information on the 2-1-1 number, which is a free service by phone that helps connect people with essential social and health services. Next sessions: September 8 & 9! Register here. Learn more here.
  
• Request to plant a FREE tree on the city-owned parkway in front of your property or the front yard facing the street. Click here to learn more. 
• Greater West Town is now enrolling for their Shipping & Receiving Program (next class September 5) and their Wood Products Manufacturing Program (next class September 19). To learn more, call (312) 563-9570, visit ww.gwtp.org, or register for a virtual info session here.
• Legal Aid Chicago offers complimentary legal services. Call (312) 341-1070 Monday to Friday between 8am-4:30pm or apply online at legalaidchicago.org. Or, stop by Westside Health Authority at 5422 W. Division in Chicago for in-person intake available every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday between 10 am-4 pm. View the Austin flyer here, or the general flyer here.
• Deadline September 15, 2022. The 29th Ward is a part of Chicago's Participatory Budgeting Program, and wants to hear from you! How Will You Spend $1 Million to Improve Your Community? Take the survey here (panfleta en esapñol esta aquí).
• Trying to enjoy that nice summer weather while it lasts? Check out this season's Austin Go Alfresco locations! Hosted by the Austin Chamber of Commerce. Post your photos with the hashtag #AustinGoAlfresco, and enter to win a prize. See flyer for more details.
• Renaissance's Living Room Program provides mental health crisis respite in a safe, inviting, home-like atmosphere at 4835 W. Chicago Ave. in Austin. Services are confidential and free!
• Another local mental health resource: Habilitative Systems, Inc. (HSI) is a nationally-recognized human services agency that understands, recognizes, and responds to the effects of trauma through a multi-faceted approach. Trauma-Informed Services include mental health outpatient; individual, group, and family therapy; peer recovery support; substance abuse prevention and intervention; and more. They also operate a 24-hour Crisis Line at (773) 745-2620.
• More Mental Health Services: The Chicago Public Health Department offers mental health services directly and through partner organizations across the city that are available regardless of ability to pay, immigration status, or health insurance. 
• Open House Chicago, the annual city-wide architecture tour that includes sites in Austin, is looking for volunteer greeters for October 2022. Details here.
• Are you a justice-impacted entrepreneur? Check out the programs at Defy Ventures. Click here for the Interest Form. 
• Learning Edge tutoring is now recruiting students and volunteer tutors! K-8 students in Austin can enroll in the FREE, one-on-one tutoring program here. For more student information, contact Erin Agboola at erin@learningedgetutoring.org. Interested volunteers will primarily work with K-8 Austin students in the evening and can apply here. For more volunteer information, contact Kara Kalnitz at kara@learningedgetutoring.org
• The Storefront Activation Request for Proposal will support small businesses and activate vacant spaces along commercial corridors. Non-profits (local chambers, business service organizations, etc.) are eligible to receive funding and will support small businesses and artists through pop-up or art activations.  The application deadline is Friday, September 9. Click here to learn more and apply. 
• Are you an Austin resident with a personal, professional, or family history story to share? Tell the Austin Weekly News about it! Email Community Narrative Reporter Samantha Callender here.
• Do you work in childcare or early childhood education? Austin Childcare Providers Network (ACPN) is a progressive association that focuses on building the education and leadership skills of early care practitioners. Benefits of being part of the Network include professional development opportunities, personalized English Enrichment sessions to strengthen or refresh your writing and comprehension skills, and more. Details here.
• Starting in January 2023, the Austin Childcare Providers Network will be offering a 16-week Infant/Toddler Child Development Associate (CDA) professional development program. Funding is provided in part by the Illinois Department of Human Services. Selected candidates may attend free. The program has 20 available slots. If interested, contact Marilynn Ward at marilynnw@austinchildcare.org. View more details in this flyer. 
• ACPN is also offering a 9-month professional development workshop series for National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC) Accreditation. The program will accept 10 candidates. If interested, contact Marilynn Ward at marilynnw@austinchildcare.org. View more details in this flyer.  Learn more about NAFCC accreditation here. 
• New Moms’ Academic Coaching Program helps young moms to complete college degrees, while also challenging the systemic barriers that make it difficult for them to do so. Learn more here.
• A House in Austin provides Parent-Child Classes, Parent Support & Education to Austin families. Click here to learn more about their services, including free Parent Chats on Thursdays 10:30am-12:30pm (parents are free to drop in or attend regularly). They also offer cooking classes to learn new healthy recipes for your family with the chance to take home ingredients to try your next meal at home. Contact Becky Martin at (773) 896-3582 for more.
• Is your family in need of rental, mortgage, or utility assistance? Click here to check out current emergency funds that are available through the City of Chicago, State of Illinois, and Cook County. Oak Park Regional Housing Center's West Cook Homeownership Center can help Austin residents find and apply for resources. They also assist with loan modifications, foreclosure prevention counseling, and more: (773) 887-5187, or email, info@westcookhomeownership.org, for more information. West Cook Homeownership Center also runs Credit and Debt Management classes on the fourth Saturday of each month, a Homebuyer Class, and a Homebuyers Club. Click here for more information. 
• Interested in purchasing a home or vacant land? The City has incentives for purchasing in certain areas through its Micro-Market Recovery Program (MMRP). For questions, contact Austin Coming Together's MMRP Intern, Nicholas Galassini at ngalassini@austincomingtogether.org
• Need to draft end-of-life-planning documents such as Wills, Powers of Attorney, or Transfer on Death Instruments? The Center for Disability & Elder Law (CDEL) provides free legal services to low-income seniors (ages 60 and up) and persons living with disabilities. CDEL assists with specific case types including end-of-life planning, housing, consumer issues, adult guardianship, financial exploitation, and divorce. For more information on how to get legal assistance, call (312) 376-1880, Monday through Friday between 9am and 12pm or visit cdelaw.org. 
• As of August 18, 2022, the Chicago Department of Public Health issued an update on its eligibility requirements for the Monkeypox vaccine. Click here to read about eligibility requirements for the vaccine. Click here to read more about the Monkeypox virus. 
• Cook County Health continues to administer the COVID-19 vaccine at its community health centers, hospitals, and through pop-up vaccination events. The centers are also distributing free high-quality KN95 masks for all, regardless of vaccination status. More information can be found at myshotcookcounty.com (panfleta en español esta aquí).
• The FDA has now authorized a new version of both the Pfizer and Moderna booster shots for the COVID-19 virus. Learn more about it here. Read about the CDC booster shot guidelines here.

UPCOMING EVENTS

• Every 2nd Thursday of the month, on September 8 and October 13 (11am-1pm) is a FREE Grocery Distribution Event at the Human Needs Center (5323 W Lake). All are welcome.
• Saturday, September 10 is BarrieFest! A FREE neighborhood celebration featuring music, activities (including a climbing wall!), vendors, and of course FOOD! Learn more about the event here.
• Saturday, September 10 (10am-7pm) is the Ghan-Again Festival at Austin Town Hall Park (5610 W Lake). Come for music, food, dance, fashion, craft vendors, and more! Register here. View the event flyer here.
• Saturday, September 10 (10am) are FREE computer classes hosted by Austin Childcare Providers Network (5714 W Division). Classes by Mr. Gerry Taylor. Open to both beginner and intermediate level students. To register, call (731) 513-6709, or email marilynnw@austinchildcare.org. See the attached flyer for the full list of dates!
• Wednesday, September 14 (9am-2pm) is the Westside Job Seeker Bus Tour hosted by ACT. This immersive tour allows participants to see various job training programs in action! Register here. View the event flyer here. 
• Deadline September 15, 2022. The 29th Ward is a part of Chicago's Participatory Budgeting Program, and wants to hear from you! How Will You Spend $1 Million to Improve Your Community? Take the survey here (panfleta en esapñol esta aquí).e for music, food, dance, fashion, craft vendors, and more! Register here. View the event flyer here.
• Saturday, September 17 (9am) is the Austin P.O.W.E.R. walk/run, which takes participants 3.1 miles through the beautiful streets of Austin, including the Soul City Corridor. Register here.
• Saturday, September 17 and 24, and Tuesday, September 27 are Community Voices events where the Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation will share their two year needs assessment. Participate and hear how we can make our communities more welcoming to all. Listen to the first virtual meeting here. Register or view the full report here. For questions about the event, contact communityvoices@oprfcf.org.
• Tuesday, September 20 (12:30pm-1:45pm) is the "Free Legal Services with Legal Aid Chicago" Hub 101 virtual info session. Learn about FREE legal representative services in the Chicago area. Click here to RSVP. 
• Saturday, September 24 at 7pm is the Havana Blue, by Chicago Jazz Philharmonic. This concert will be located at the Kehrein Center for the Arts (5628 W Washington Blvd), with tickets for only $1! Get tickets here. View the event flyer here. 
• Every Wednesday (10am or 6pm) the Young Manufacturing Association will host virtual info sessions for young individuals to learn about various job placement services and training programs in business, manufacturing, entrepreneurship, technology, and more. If interested, contact DeeDee Jones at djones@mfgren.org. View the flyer here.
• Every Wednesday (9am or 4pm) JARC hosts FREE Application Sessions for the Careers in Manufacturing Programs at 9am and 4pm. In-person sessions are on the first Wednesday of each month and virtual sessions are on the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Wednesdays of the month. Apply here.
• 15th District Police Department (Austin) Beat Meetings happen virtually on the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday of every month. Click here for more information or email CAPS015DISTRICT@chicagopolice.org.
• Every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, Chicago Public Schools hosts COVID-19 vaccination sites from 9am-1pm. View the list of sites here.
• The Austin running crew facilitated by CARA focuses on improving the health and wellness of the Austin Community via walking/running. The group meets every Thursday at 5pm at La Follette Park (1333 Laramie Ave). Learn more at cararuns.org/arc. View the flyer here.
• Volunteer Saturdays with the Austin Garden Collective, 10am-12pm. View the calendar flyer here. Learn more at AustinGardenCollective.com.
• Every Thursday from 10am-12pm is the PCC Austin Farm Stand (330 N. Lotus Ave.) Stop by to purchase some delicious fresh produce! Learn more here.
• Every Thursday from 1pm-6pm is Austin Town Hall City Market (Austin Town Hall Park, 5610 W. Lake Street). This outdoor market has fresh fruits and vegetables, baked goods, and locally sourced meat for sale. Market lasts through late October.
• Grace & Peace Church Food Pantry is open every Tuesday (10am-2pm), Wednesday (10am-2pm), and Thursday (2pm-6pm). It is located at 1856 N. Leclaire Ave. Learn more here.
• Circle Urban Ministries Food Pantry is open every Wednesday (9am-11am) and Thursday (1pm-3pm). It is located at 118 N. Central Ave. View the healthy food resources flyer here. Learn more here. 
• Beyond Hunger Food Pantry is open for recipients every Wednesday (3:30pm-5:30pm) and Saturday (9 am-12pm). Drive-Thru at 924 Lake St., Oak Park. Walk-up at 848 Lake St., Oak Park. Learn more here.
• Hope Community Church Food Pantry is open every Friday (12pm-2pm) and Saturday (10am-12pm) at 5900 W. Iowa St.
• Every Saturday in the summer and fall Cook County is hosting free rabies vaccine and microchip clinics for the first 100 cats and dogs. Visit cookgov.me/ARCclinics for dates and locations.

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

• Forty Acres Fresh Market in Austin is hiring a Business Operations Associate along with a Manager and Assistant Manager for the Austin Town Hall City Market. Click here for details.
• CPS is hiring for several positions. View open jobs here.
• Legal Aid Chicago is hiring an Intake Specialist in the Client Screening Unit. View the job opening here. 
• Windy City Harvest Corps is hiring justice-involved individuals and veterans in closely mentored, full-time, paid transitional jobs and supports them in finding full-time, long-term employment each year. Participants work with Windy City Harvest for 13 weeks (36 hours per week) and are paid $17 per hour. Information sessions are being held until the end of June. Learn more here.
• BUILD Chicago is hiring for several positions and accepting volunteers. Click here for the full list. 
• Renaissance Social Services, a westside nonprofit that provides housing and mental health services for homeless and at-risk households, is currently hiring a number of positions. Click here for the full list.
• AIM Specialty Health is hiring Referral Specialists. View the job opportunity here, coordinated by Skills For Chicagoland's Future. 
• The Austin Community Food Co-op is hiring a Community Relations Associate. Click here to view the job opening. 
• IFF is looking to fill several positions in Chicago and other locations. Details here.
• New Moms nonprofit is hiring for several positions. Click here for the complete list of opportunities.
• By The Hand Club for Kids is hiring for several positions. Click here to view all job openings. 
• Territory NFP is seeking a Design Director to support the Executive Director and Program Manager in creating a design-rich environment for teens to thrive and cultivating a design practice model that reflects Territory’s values. Click here for the description.
• St. Joseph Services is seeking Part-time Youth Instructors and a Part-time Mentoring Coordinator. Details here.
• Sarah's Inn is hiring for several positions. Click here to view all job openings.
• Institute for Nonviolence Chicago has several open positions. View jobs here.
• Mercy Housing Lakefront is hiring for several positions like Desk Clerk, Property Management, and Janitorial positions in Chicago, including a Maintenance Technician for Washington Courts Apartments, located in the Austin neighborhood. Click here to see all Chicago job postings.
• Jane Addams Resource Corporation (JARC)'s free job training courses can help you gain employment in the manufacturing sector. In order to be eligible for free careers in manufacturing programs job training, you must first attend an application session. Visit their application schedule to sign up and start a career in manufacturing! Their new West Side Training Center is just a few blocks away from the Austin neighborhood. CNC, Welding and Bridge are some of the trainings that are offered. In addition, two new programs: 3-D Printing and Mechanical Assembly, will be rolled out soon. In-person application sessions are held on the first Wednesday of every month at 9 am and 4 pm. Virtual sessions are held on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Wednesdays of each month. Learn more about JARC's programs here.
• JARC is also hiring interns and volunteers for their Operations department. Essential functions include various administrative tasks such as file management, vendor management, website/email maintenance, and more. If interested, contact hr@jane-addams.org
• Industrial Council of Nearwest Chicago (ICNC) regularly posts job openings in the Food and Beverage Industry and other industries. Click here to view all job openings.
• AFP Chicago is a resource for professionals interested in working for a non-profit in the Chicago area. Sign up for their job resource emails here. Search the listings here.