ESDC - Eighteenth Street Development Corporation http://eighteenthstreet.org/blog Fostering Pilsen's Economy Wed, 19 Jun 2013 01:11:34 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 Center for Economic Progress- Free tax services until April 15th (Distribute widely) http://eighteenthstreet.org/blog/2013/03/14/center-for-economic-progress-free-tax-services-until-april-15th-distribute-widely/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=center-for-economic-progress-free-tax-services-until-april-15th-distribute-widely http://eighteenthstreet.org/blog/2013/03/14/center-for-economic-progress-free-tax-services-until-april-15th-distribute-widely/#comments Thu, 14 Mar 2013 19:41:47 +0000 Administrator http://eighteenthstreet.org/blog/?p=2350
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Center for Economic Progress
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Hi Hector,

Tax day is just around the corner! With a slow improvement in the economy, tax time with the Center for Economic Progress (CEP) provides low-income families the opportunity to get a leg up.

In 2013, we will provide free tax preparation services in 15 communities to individuals making under $25,000 and families making under $50,000.

Please distribute this information widely and help families access free tax services and valuable tax credits. Find a CEP tax site near you: www.economicprogress.org/tax-site-finder.

When you visit our sites, you can expect:

  • High-quality, free tax preparation services.
  • Diligence and thoroughness of our tax preparers to navigate the tax code and help clients receive all of the credits and deductions they are due.
  • Value-added services like access to safe financial products that make the most of refunds and information on free financial coaching to help families and individuals manage their money.

Check us out at www.economicprogress.org.

We hope to see you this tax season. Happy taxes!

Best,

Nina Limbeck

CEP_logo(email) 3

 Nina Limbeck, Manager
Volunteer Engagement
Center for Economic Progress
29 E. Madison Street, Suite 900
Chicago, IL 60602
312.630.0273 Tel
312.252.0285 Fax
nlimbeck@economicprogress.org
www.economicprogress.org
]]> http://eighteenthstreet.org/blog/2013/03/14/center-for-economic-progress-free-tax-services-until-april-15th-distribute-widely/feed/ 0 Help Windy City Hoops http://eighteenthstreet.org/blog/2013/03/14/help-windy-city-hoops/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=help-windy-city-hoops http://eighteenthstreet.org/blog/2013/03/14/help-windy-city-hoops/#comments Thu, 14 Mar 2013 14:50:31 +0000 Administrator http://eighteenthstreet.org/blog/?p=2347 $25,000 MATCH

To help us reach our goal, Sammons Financial Group (SFG) has agreed to match Windy City Hoops dollar for dollar if we raise $25,000 or more over the next week. That means if we raise $25,000 online between now and midnight on March 20, SFG will chip in another $25,000 to the program.Donate now to help us cross the finish line. Every dollar counts!

DAYS LEFT IN MATCH: 7

MATCH DEADLINE: Midnight, March 20th

Windy City Hoops

Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Chicago native and Basketball Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas, and the Chicago Parks Foundation have asked all of Chicago to step up and support programs that reduce violence and give alternatives to at-risk youth and young adults.

Now, you will have the opportunity to help the Park District expand its successful teen basketball program – “Windy City Hoops” – by making a donation to support the purchase of a jersey, pay a referee for a game, reserve a court or support another part of the program. With the ambitious goal of raising $480K in 60 days, the Park District needs to come a long way in a short time, and your support today will make all the difference. Check out the options on the right side of the page to see how you can help, either by becoming a “FAN,” an “MVP,” a “COACH,” or by giving a custom donation. At the individual donor level, each donation will have a tangible benefit to basketball league participants.

Basketball programming has a proven impact on providing youth with alternatives to drugs, gangs, and violence, and the $480K raised on this page will go toward funding a year-round basketball league hosted by the Park District on Friday and Saturday nights in targeted communities across the city. The leagues will operate in 10 parks, opening up an additional 3,200 opportunities for at-risk youth ages 13-17. The leagues will operate from 7-10pm on Fridays and 5-10pm on Saturdays, a substantial expansion that will double the total number of hours of teen basketball programming provided by the Park District year-round.

Mayor Emanuel believes in comprehensive strategies that provide multiple options for young people to learn important skills in a safe environment, and the Windy City Hoops program will build on recent administrative initiatives to expand upon proven programs that provide at-risk youth with jobs, training, and mentoring. This includes the City’s recent expansion of the Becoming a Man and launch of the Greencorps youth program.  For more information on these recent efforts, visit: http://bit.ly/UANoyM.

Progress Report: 

Locations:

10 parks spread across eight community areas were chosen for Windy City Hoops according to high crime levels, low median income, and/or regional influence of the park facility:

  • Loyola (Rogers Park)
  • Amundsen (Austin)
  • Columbus (Austin)
  • Garfield (East Garfield)
  • Franklin (North Lawndale)
  • Kennicott (Kenwood)
  • Jackson (Woodlawn)
  • Ogden (Englewood)
  • Hamilton (Englewood)
  • Fernwood (Roseland)

 

 

Help us build young leaders on and off the court, Chicago. Donate now to Windy City Hoops!

WINDY CITY HOOPS is sponsored by the Chicago Parks Foundation, the philanthropic partner of the Chicago Park District.

]]> http://eighteenthstreet.org/blog/2013/03/14/help-windy-city-hoops/feed/ 0 Live on the Honky Tonk Saloon Stage…3/13 to 3/24: Chicago Blues Angels, Bailey Dee, Nick Bell Band and more!!! http://eighteenthstreet.org/blog/2013/03/14/live-on-the-honky-tonk-saloon-stage-313-to-324-chicago-blues-angels-bailey-dee-nick-bell-band-and-more/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=live-on-the-honky-tonk-saloon-stage-313-to-324-chicago-blues-angels-bailey-dee-nick-bell-band-and-more http://eighteenthstreet.org/blog/2013/03/14/live-on-the-honky-tonk-saloon-stage-313-to-324-chicago-blues-angels-bailey-dee-nick-bell-band-and-more/#comments Thu, 14 Mar 2013 14:45:52 +0000 Administrator http://eighteenthstreet.org/blog/?p=2345
Honky Tonk BBQ - 1800 S. Racine.
Music and Events at the Honky Tonk Saloon Stage.
Visit http://www.honkytonkbbqchicago.com for menus and more!

Thanks to all of you who signed up for the mailing list. We’re excited about our live music and events, so we love telling you all about it! If you want your friends to get in the know, please ask them to email music@honkytonkbbqchicago.com and we’ll gladly add them to the list. And now, without further ado, our schedule for the next two weeks…

 

 

——————– ——————– ——————–

Wednesday, 3/13/13 – 6:00pm to 8:00pm
Jake Sanders & John Donatowicz
Traditional jazz guitar duets.

Wednesday, 3/13/13 – 8:30pm to 10:30pm
Trivia Night  - www.triviachicago.com/index.html
Come put your usually useless knowledge to the ultimate test and enjoy the grooves supplied by your host/DJ!

Wednesday, 3/13/13 – 11:00pm to 1:30am
Bill MacKay & LeRoy Bach - www.leroybach.com 
Chicago guitarists Bill MacKay and LeRoy Bach join forces as an electric guitar duo, with deeply resonant original compositions and free-wheeling improvisations. They capture a continually expanding range of colors and moods, and each musical moment spontaneously unfolds into guitar mayhem and brave beauty.
Thursday, 3/14/13 –  8:30pm to 11:30pm
Joe Hurt - http://joehurt.com/
The JOE HURT TRIO is Chicago’s premiere piano-jazz trio playing the right music at the right time. No matter what the occasion, your group becomes “The In Crowd”, when Joe and his guys take the stage. Cool as ice, or hot as State Street on an August night, The Joe Hurt Trio provides the soundtrack and sets the mood-Chicago Style.
Friday, 3/15/13 – 7:30pm to 9:30pm
Northside Southpaws – http://www.northsidesouthpaws.com
The Northside Southpaws are an all-left-handed mandolin/guitar duo who have performed string ragtime, proto-grass, polkas, tangos and waltzes on lefty resonator instruments at Honky Tonk BBQ since 2007. In 2008 Mandolin Magazine called their debut CD, STOMP GLIDE WOBBLE, “one of the best mandolin CDs of the year”. Sing Out! magazine calls their latest CD, NO BREAD, “just wonderful”.
Friday, 3/15/13 – 10:00pm to 1:00am
Nick Bell Band – https://www.facebook.com/NickBellBand
Nick Bell’s background comes from Moscow, Russia. He is originally from Chicago, IL and that gives him a tremendous feel for the Blues. What better city than Chicago!? With a mix of spending his childhood in Europe, and living in Chicago, his musical admirations spanned between two continents. Growing up on cassettes and CD’s of Deep Purple, Pink Floyd, Black Sabbath, Jethro Tull, The Beatles, Rainbow, Nazareth, and countless others, introduced him into the music we know as the Blues and artists such as Gary Moore, Walter Trout, Robin Trower, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Eric Clapton, Buddy Guy, John Lee Hooker, and likewise, this loop stretches on and on and on.
Saturday, 3/16/13 – 7:30pm to 10:30pm
Fumée Gypsy Project - http://www.fumeegypsyproject.com/
Come on down to Pilsen to hear the pleasant sounds of the Chicago-based gypsy jazz group, Fumée Gypsy Project featuring Christy Bennett vocals, Casey Nielsen guitar, Gabriel Datcu guitar and Christian Dillingham on the bass.

Saturday, 3/16/13 – 11:00pm to 2:30am
Saturday Night DJ Series  
Every Saturday night Honky Tonk invites special guests DJs to spin the best of funk, soul, reggae, and eclectic treasures. It’s shaping up to be the best dance party this side of the train tracks.

Sunday, 3/17/13 – 8:00pm to 11:00pm
Fat Babies
The Fat Babies is a Chicago-based traditional jazz group, specializing in the music from the late 1920s to the early 1930s. Its hard-driving swing has made it a popular favorite for both dancers and listeners alike. The band has appeared numerous times for high profile swing dance groups in Chicago, and is quickly gaining recognition throughout the Midwest. The band is heavily influenced by musicians such as Bix Beiderbecke, Louis Armstrong, and Jelly Roll Morton. As a result, the Fat Babies are known as some of the finest purveyors of authentic Chicago style jazz. Listeners and dancers alike will find fresh and exciting renditions of both familiar and unfamiliar songs in the Fat Babies’ performances.

——————– ——————– ——————–

Wednesday, 3/20/13 – 6:00pm to 8:00pm
Jake Sanders & John Donatowicz
Traditional jazz guitar duets.

Wednesday, 3/20/13 – 8:30pm to 10:30pm

Come put your usually useless knowledge to the ultimate test and enjoy the grooves supplied by your host/DJ!Wednesday, 3/20/13 – 11:00pm to 1:30am
Bill MacKay & LeRoy Bach - www.leroybach.com 
Chicago guitarists Bill MacKay and LeRoy Bach join forces as an electric guitar duo, with deeply resonant original compositions and free-wheeling improvisations. They capture a continually expanding range of colors and moods, and each musical moment spontaneously unfolds into guitar mayhem and brave beauty.
Thursday, 3/21/13 –  8:30pm to 11:30pm
The Richie Pardo Quartet featuring Larry Novak on Piano and Ron Dewar on Sax 
Larry and Ron are true Chicago legends playing with such greats as Sarah Vaughn, Dizzy Gillespie, Buddy Defranco, Clark Terry and Louie Bellson to name a few. Also featuring Bill “Bugs” Cochran who played with Sun Ra’s famous Arkestra, Gene Ammons and Zoot Sims. And the famous Richie Pardo who has been working the Chicago scene since his early teens with some of the greatest local musicians.
Friday, 3/22/13 – 7:30pm to 9:30pm
Northside Southpaws – http://www.northsidesouthpaws.com
The Northside Southpaws are an all-left-handed mandolin/guitar duo who have performed string ragtime, proto-grass, polkas, tangos and waltzes on lefty resonator instruments at Honky Tonk BBQ since 2007. In 2008 Mandolin Magazine called their debut CD, STOMP GLIDE WOBBLE, “one of the best mandolin CDs of the year”. Sing Out! magazine calls their latest CD, NO BREAD, “just wonderful”.
Friday, 3/22/13 – 10:00pm to 1:00am
Chicago Blues Angels – http://www.chicagobluesangels.com/ 
Chicago Blues Angels are made up of Armando Cortez, founded the band in 1999. Having shared the stage with such performers as Kid Ramos, Kim Wilson, Lynwood Slim, Nick Moss, Rockin’ Johnny, Nick Curran, and Willie Smith, he sights influences such as Johnny Guitar Watson, Muddy Waters, Albert Collins, Freddie King, Earl Hooker, Robert Lockwood and others…
Brad Ber has been playing professionally since age 19, recording, writing and performing with bands of all styles, from punk to rock and roll, rockabilly to country. In the American Roots genre of music, he has played with roots pioneers Sleepy LaBeef and Billy Lee Riley, as well as many other bands across Chicagoland and the nation. After a call from Mondo in early 2003, Brad filled in for a gig and has been playing with the Chicago Blues Angels ever since.
And Herman Hines came to the band as a happy accident in 2001. Mondo heard Herman while he was singing karaoke at Just One More in Joliet. Needless to say, they hit it off and Herman became the lead singer with CBA. Now, the crowd anticipates Herminator’s powerful vocals as he delivers their favorites. Herman’s distinct range delivers B.B. King crooning to low down Howlin’ Wolf and everything in between.
Saturday, 3/23/13 – 7:30pm to 10:30pm
Bailey Dee & the Late Night Bait – http://www.baileydee.com/
Come on down to Pilsen for some delicious Barbeque and an evening with Bailey Dee! Bailey Dee is a beautiful and talented, multi-instrumentalist gear nut currently living/working/rocking in the great city of Chicago, IL. You may see her around town with multiple groups but don’t be confused!  She has most certainly got a lot of music to share!

Saturday, 3/23/13 – 11:00pm to 2:30am
The Uptown Savages – http://www.uptownsavages.com/
The Uptown Savages are Milwaukee’s premier retro/roots rockin’ combo. The band, comprised of veteran Milwaukee musicians, performs greasy, rockin’, Rhythm & Blues music, 1950s style. Think pulsating piano rhythms, powerful blues shouting, guitar playing that is both hot AND cool, wailing sax and one of the best rhythm sections in the Midwest.
The Uptown Savages have 2 full-length releases with plans to begin a third in 2012. The band also has released a 7” single and appears on compilations released by the Rockabilly Hall of Fame in Memphis and Milwaukee’s own WMSE 91.7 fm. The Uptown Savages have received airplay and have charted on campus and community radio all over the world. They’ve performed at clubs, festivals and events from Chicago to Minneapolis including Milwaukee’s Summerfest, Bastille Days and Riversplash, among many others. The group has also performed at both of Oneida Casino’s Rockin’ Fifties Festivals. Sharp dress combined with great musicianship and a fantastic repertoire, the Uptown Savages always bring a party to the stage.

Sunday, 3/24/13 – 8:00pm to 11:00pm
Fat Babies
The Fat Babies is a Chicago-based traditional jazz group, specializing in the music from the late 1920s to the early 1930s. Its hard-driving swing has made it a popular favorite for both dancers and listeners alike. The band has appeared numerous times for high profile swing dance groups in Chicago, and is quickly gaining recognition throughout the Midwest. The band is heavily influenced by musicians such as Bix Beiderbecke, Louis Armstrong, and Jelly Roll Morton. As a result, the Fat Babies are known as some of the finest purveyors of authentic Chicago style jazz. Listeners and dancers alike will find fresh and exciting renditions of both familiar and unfamiliar songs in the Fat Babies’ performances.

——————– ——————– ——————–

UPCOMING SHOWS

3/29  – Miss Jubilee
3/30  – Union Suits
4/5 – Jim Burns Band
4/6 – The Real Gone
4/12 – Viper Dream Gypsy
4/13 – The Cactus Blossoms

]]> http://eighteenthstreet.org/blog/2013/03/14/live-on-the-honky-tonk-saloon-stage-313-to-324-chicago-blues-angels-bailey-dee-nick-bell-band-and-more/feed/ 0 National Museum of Mexican Art- Una Platica entre Teatro Buendia y Goodman Theatre http://eighteenthstreet.org/blog/2013/03/14/national-museum-of-mexican-art-una-platica-entre-teatro-buendia-y-goodman-theatre/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=national-museum-of-mexican-art-una-platica-entre-teatro-buendia-y-goodman-theatre http://eighteenthstreet.org/blog/2013/03/14/national-museum-of-mexican-art-una-platica-entre-teatro-buendia-y-goodman-theatre/#comments Thu, 14 Mar 2013 14:40:48 +0000 Administrator http://eighteenthstreet.org/blog/?p=2342  

The National Museum of Mexican Art is the only Latino museum accredited by the American Association of Museums. The Museum presents visual arts exhibitions, performance arts, and education programs to more than 180,000 annually including 70,000 K-12 students. The Museum is a first voice institution for the Mexican community. For information call 312-738-1503 or visit the Museum’s website www.nationalmuseumofmexicanart.org. Join today!

The Museum’s hours are Tuesday through Sunday, 10am to 5pm. Admission is free!

 

]]> http://eighteenthstreet.org/blog/2013/03/14/national-museum-of-mexican-art-una-platica-entre-teatro-buendia-y-goodman-theatre/feed/ 0 Dream Theatre Company- Reviews are IN! The Tragedy of Amleth, Princess of Denmark! http://eighteenthstreet.org/blog/2013/03/13/dream-theatre-company-reviews-are-in-the-tragedy-of-amleth-princess-of-denmark/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=dream-theatre-company-reviews-are-in-the-tragedy-of-amleth-princess-of-denmark http://eighteenthstreet.org/blog/2013/03/13/dream-theatre-company-reviews-are-in-the-tragedy-of-amleth-princess-of-denmark/#comments Wed, 13 Mar 2013 19:35:56 +0000 Administrator http://eighteenthstreet.org/blog/?p=2338

 
    DTC Logo

 
Quick Links 

:
Reviews:
 
Socialize:
Box Office:
Address:
556 W. 18th St.
Chicago, IL

The Tragedy of Amleth, princess of Denmark
 
March 7 – April 7
Thursdays, Fridays, & Saturdays at 8:00pm
Sundays at 7:00pm
Dream Theatre is located at 556 W 18th St., Chicago, IL
Audiences are Raving about Amleth!
“I thought it was amazing! Very well done!”
- Facebook Review – 3/11/2013 at 10:25am

“Loved all aspects of the production, and the acting was outstanding. Anna took me on her journey.”

- Facebook Review – 3/11/2013 at 1:13pm

“Loved it! You all are amazing!”

- Facebook Review – 3/11/2013 at 12:56pm  
Reviews are in!
“More than a simple adaptation of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, this original work from Dream Theatre’s Jeremy Menekseoglu stands on its own as a dark, sexy, and deeply immersive tragedy. Anna Weiler Menekseoglu is explosive as Amleth, the troubled royal teen who returns to Denmark upon her father’s death to find him already interred and her mother remarried. Feeling distant from her childhood lover Ophelia (played with sweetness and unexpected resolve by Megan Merrill), Amleth grapples with isolation and anger, in addition to a sense of duty to avenge her father’s death. And the royal household proves to be treacherous terrain for the immature and confused. From an amusement park to a rat-infested nunnery, Amleth’s journey is an engrossing and cautionary tale; the Bard would be proud. -Marissa Oberlander”
“Dream Theatre’s strange and emotionally naked take on “Peter Pan” was a Centerstage fringe favorite in 2012. With “Amleth,” writer/director Jeremy Menekseoglu revamps another iconic literary man/boy…by making him a woman/girl. In this all-new script, the Princess of Denmark returns home to find her father is dead, and her uncle is married to her mother. Talk about teenage angst.”
Rhyme of the Day
“If you love Hamlet, I recommend this play. On the other hand, if you hate Hamlet, try this version! You may well like it better!” – John J Enright

 Dream Theatre Company presents:
The Tragedy of Amleth, Princess of Denmark
a world premiere play, by Chicago playwright Jeremy Menekseoglu.
Tickets can be purchased here or by calling the box office: 773-552-8616.

On a dark and stormy night, princess Amleth returns to Denmark for her father’s funeral only to discover that the body has been buried, her mother is remarried and the house is filled with drunken partygoers. Amleth seeks comfort in the arms of her lover Ophelia, but not even their innocent romance can stop her from questioning every truth she has ever believed. Amleth’s once innocuous view of life spirals out of control until a climactic ending that not even the bard himself could have foreseen.

“To fulfill my duty and live in the real world, or leave and regain my ignorance: That is the question.”

AMLETH is an ambitious relative and beautiful homage to what is arguably the greatest play of all time.

Thanks to the support of The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation and a successful Kickstarter campaign, Dream Theatre Company was able to enlist expert artists, craftsmen, and professionals who have enhanced our regular ensemble’s talents. The product of these collaborations is an especially bold production. Audiences who have experienced Dream Theatre’s past performances will feel at home in the style of this production, new audiences will be amazed by our signature intimacy and atmosphere, and everyone will be engrossed in the story.

Cast:
Amleth - Anna W Menekseoglu
Ophelia - Megan Merrill
Gertrude - Rachel Martindale
Claudius - Jeremy Menekseoglu
Mrs. Polonius & Sister of the Order of Clare - Leana Savoie
Dog Master - Hasket Morris
Artificer & Bishop - John-Paul Kostecki
Mother of the Order of Clare &  Lady - Laura Gouin

Production:
Direction – Jeremy Menekseoglu & Anna W Menekseoglu
Set Design – Anna W Menekseoglu
Set Construction – Greg Callozzo & Paul Knappenberger
Lights – Paul Knappenberger
Sound – Jeremy Menekseoglu
Projections – Jeremy Menekseoglu
Costume Design – Mab Graves & Anna W Menekseoglu
Illustrations – Mab Graves
Costume Construction – Anna W Menekseoglu, Rachel Martindale & Megan Merrill
Props – Dana Von & Colin Carroll
Weapons Master – Paul Knappenberger
Marketing – Janice Rumschlag
Photos – Giau Truong & Megan Merrill
Kickstarter Manager – Shannon Daly
Stage Managers – Dana Von & Colin Carroll
Sincerely,

 

Dream Theatre Company
]]> http://eighteenthstreet.org/blog/2013/03/13/dream-theatre-company-reviews-are-in-the-tragedy-of-amleth-princess-of-denmark/feed/ 0 City of Chicago Business Affairs & Consumer Protection- Business Source Newsletter: Small Business Center Opens http://eighteenthstreet.org/blog/2013/03/13/city-of-chicago-business-affairs-consumer-protection-business-source-newsletter-small-business-center-opens/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=city-of-chicago-business-affairs-consumer-protection-business-source-newsletter-small-business-center-opens http://eighteenthstreet.org/blog/2013/03/13/city-of-chicago-business-affairs-consumer-protection-business-source-newsletter-small-business-center-opens/#comments Wed, 13 Mar 2013 19:34:27 +0000 Administrator http://eighteenthstreet.org/blog/?p=2335

 
Business Source Header


Mayor: City Hall Open for Small Businesses
Chief Small Business Officer Introduced at Press Conference
SBC Opening

Last week, Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced an overhaul of the way City Hall works with small businesses in order to cut red tape and more effectively support economic development across Chicago’s neighborhoods. By opening a new City Hall Small Business Center and streamlining permit and licensing reviews, small business owners and entrepreneurs across the city will have a “one-stop-shop” and dedicated staff working with them every step of the way to support their success. And under the leadership of a new Chief Small Business Officer, Roxanne Nava, City Hall will be equipped to advocate for small business owners and entrepreneurs and ensure policies and procedures are implemented in a way that works for small business.

“Small businesses are the backbone of our economy and the lifeblood of our neighborhoods, accounting for nearly half of Chicago’s jobs. Yet too often City Hall can get in the way instead of supporting their success. That stops today,” said Mayor Emanuel. “We have made strides in streamlining licensing and permitting processes, but there is still more we can do. With the new Small Business Center, led by a dedicated Chief Small Business Officer, our small businesses and entrepreneurs will find that City Hall’s door is wide open to support them every step of the way.”

“We are committed to making sure City Hall is a partner, not an obstacle, for our small businesses,” said BACP Commissioner Rosemary Krimbel. “With this Small Business Center and Chief Small Business Officer, we are creating a dedicated, “one-stop-shop” for entrepreneurs and small businesses to help them thrive.”

To fully support the new Small Business Center as a one-stop-shop for licenses and permits, several changes have been made:

  • City staff are being retrained to offer beginning-to-end case management, ensuring that small business owners and entrepreneurs have someone working with them every step of the way to obtain necessary permits and licenses;
  • City zoning personnel that review business licenses have been moved into the Small Business Center, decreasing wait times for zoning approvals and allowing the Center to serve as a convenient zoning help desk;
  • Zoning and licensing reviews will now include driveway permit reviews, which decreases overlap, streamlines the review process for small business owners and entrepreneurs, and reduces the time it takes to obtain a license
  • City staff will also actively direct their clients to financial assistance programs and business plan counselors to encourage the success of small business owners and entrepreneurs.

Last year, Mayor Emanuel took major steps to make the business licensing system simpler and more streamlined by reducing the number of license types by 60 percent. By cutting the number of license categories from 117 to 49 and requiring businesses to obtain less licenses to get up and running, the reform saves over 10,000 small businesses $2 million in license fees each year, savings that can be invested instead in their businesses and creating jobs.

About Roxanne Nava, Chief Small Business Officer

A native Chicagoan, Nava brings a decade of experience supporting small businesses and entrepreneurs at the state government level, serving as the Director of the Illinois Financial Institutions and formerly as the Assistant Director of the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity, where she focused on creating consumer protection legislation and led Opportunity Returns, a regional economic initiative that drives job attraction and retention, respectively. Before joining the State of Illinois, Nava was a Vice President of The Northern Trust Company, where she sourced, underwrote and managed commercial lending relationships in the Chicago market. At The Northern Trust Company, Nava also led Latino outreach, increasing Latino business clients by 50 percent during her tenure. Prior to her time at The Northern Trust Company, Nava served in various senior management roles at Citi Group and Chase. Nava has been recognized for her accomplishments and leadership from the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and serves on the board of Leadership Greater Chicago. She received her Bachelor’s degree at DePaul University.

The full press conference can be seen at the Mayor’s Live Stream site.

Polish Small Business Expo Draws a Crowd 
Western_ONAThank you to everyone who attended and exhibited at Saturday’s Polish Small Business Expo sponsored by Western Union. The event drew more than 150 entrepreneurs and small business owners to the Copernicus Center where they had the opportunity to meet with more than 30 exhibitors and obtain resources on financing, licensing process, tax laws and much more.
The Latino Small Business Expo is slated to take place in early May. Stay tuned for a date and location. More information about our Small Business Expos can be found HERE.
At right, Julie Guida, of Western Union, and Adolfo Hernandez, of the Mayor’s Office of New Americans, stop for a picture during the Polish Small Business Expo.

How to Handle Rising Tension in the Workplace 

If tensions arise in your community among different groups, the Chicago Commission on Human Relations may be able to assist through tools such as mediation, to prevent tensions from escalating into hate crimes or violence.  Business owners can help by making sure that employees treat customers respectfully regardless of race, religion, economic status, or other differences.

Click the link below for more information: www.cityofchicago.org/humanrelations.

Annual Plastic Bag Recycling Reporting Deadline is March 31

 

As of January 1, 2012, the Department of Environment no longer exists as a standalone unit. The integrated model that replaces it is critical to incorporate sustainability so that it is a part of every policy decision and capital investment. Starting in 2012, each department and sister agency will be engaged in creating a more sustainable Chicago.

 

Establishments are required to submit an annual report by the end of March of the following year.

 

The deadline for the 2012 reporting year is March, 31 2013. The report must provide the following:

  • Total amount of plastic bags and plastic film collected;
  • Name and location of the facility where the bags were recycled; and
  • Cost to your business of such efforts.

Even if your business reported last year that it does not meet the definition of a retail or wholesale establishment and/or does not hand out plastic carryout bags to customers, please still return this report with the appropriate box checked. Failure to do so may result in an inspection by the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection.

 

To complete the 2012 report, please download the form HERE, fill it in, and return the completed form to BACPbagrecycling@cityofchicago.org. All forms must be emailed.

 

If you have any questions regarding the annual reporting requirements, please click here to read answers to Frequently Asked Questions.

Business Education Workshops for March
BACP offers Business Education Workshops every Wednesday and Friday. Workshops vary each month and are conducted by City Officials, experts and partner business organizations. All workshops are free, open to the public, and held at City Hall, 121 N. LaSalle St., Chicago, in Room 805.
March Workshop Highlights

JOC Information Session
3/13 from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m.
Presented By Dwayne Pierre-Antoine of The Gordian Group

This workshop provides a summary of the City’s Job Order Contract Program and the benefits of JOC for the Prime Contractor and Subcontractors. Learn how to bid a JOC as a Prime Contractor and Subcontractor. This session is ideal for construction and construction related business owners.

 

Big Dreams for the Small Business Owner: Don’t Let Taxes Get in Your Way
3/15 from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m.
Presented by Jane Zhao, Center for Economic Progress and Yolanda Ruiz, IRS

Starting a small business? Learn about when you must file a tax a return and make estimated tax payments, what constitutes taxable income, what business expenses you can deduct, and how good record-keeping can help you save money and survive an IRS audit. Get both perspectives – one from the IRS, and one from an attorney who represents taxpayers.

 

Understanding Labor & Employment Law for Businesses
3/20 from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m.
Presented by Charles Krugel, a management side labor, employment & human resources attorney

A highly interactive, Q & A, based discussion about the fundamentals of labor and employment law and human resources management for businesses. Feel free to ask any questions or raise any concerns.

 

How to Obtain a Liquor and Public Place of Amusement (PPA) License
3/22 from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m.
Presented by the City of Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection 

Are you interested in providing entertainment or serving liquor in your restaurant, bar or theater? Come and learn about the City’s licensing requirements and policies when it comes to liquor licensing, live entertainment, having a DJ, or charging admission at the door.

 

How to Become Certified
3/27 from 1:30 to 3:00 p.m.
Presented by the City of Chicago Department of Procurement Services (DPS)

This workshop will provide information on which businesses are qualified to become certified as a Minority/Woman Owned Business Enterprise. Learn what documents are required, where to go for help, and how to avoid the most common mistakes.

Doing Business with the City of Chicago
3:15 to 4:30 p.m.

This information is designed to outline the role and responsibility of the Department of Procurement Services, and how the City’s purchasing process works. This workshop is ideal for companies looking to do business with the City of Chicago.

 

Online Marketing 101
3/29 from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m.
Presented by Jesse Caballero, Habanero Communications

Learn the concepts of online marketing, email marketing, and social media that can help your business grow during a challenging economy.

 

The entire March schedule can be found at Workshop Calendar.
City of Chicago
Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection

121 N. LaSalle St, Room 805, Chicago, IL 60602
312.744.6060  www.cityofchicago.org/BACP
]]> http://eighteenthstreet.org/blog/2013/03/13/city-of-chicago-business-affairs-consumer-protection-business-source-newsletter-small-business-center-opens/feed/ 0 ElevArte Community Studio- Be part of the ripple effect for peace! http://eighteenthstreet.org/blog/2013/03/13/elevarte-community-studio-be-part-of-the-ripple-effect-for-peace/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=elevarte-community-studio-be-part-of-the-ripple-effect-for-peace http://eighteenthstreet.org/blog/2013/03/13/elevarte-community-studio-be-part-of-the-ripple-effect-for-peace/#comments Wed, 13 Mar 2013 19:29:42 +0000 Administrator http://eighteenthstreet.org/blog/?p=2332

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Be part of the ripple effect for peace!​


Join ElevArte Community Studio and Changing Worlds as we kick off the springtime with a youth peace march on 3/21 in the Pilsen neighborhood. Our participation in the Ten Thousand Ripples (TTR) project comes at a crucial moment when violence in Chicago neighborhoods is on a rise. This is our way of contributing to peace efforts in our neighborhood by bringing community together through the arts. Read more…  

ARTS PROGRAMMING


Are you a teen interested in photography, street arts, or knitting and crocheting?  If yes, then sign up for one of our free classes. You can learn a new art skill by some of the best teaching artists in the city. What are you waiting for? Sign up today online or via phone at 312- 226-7767

Want to hear directly from our youth? Read about ElevArte student, Carolina Gallo’s first-hand experience in Tejer y Poder here.

Sign up today online or via phone at 312- 226-7767

Class schedule to choose from includes: 

  • ASM: Tejer y Poder – Fiber arts
  • Journeys/Migrations and the Document – Digital photography
  • Carnaval
  • Street Art

Take advantage of these free classes today!

Save-the-Date:  May 23, 2013 

Art As Our First Language – Celebrating 35-years of Free Arts Programming
Check out photos from ElevArte events here!
Follow us on Twitter @ElevarteStudio!
Like us on Facebook!
You are receiving this email because you have participated in a Elevarte Community Studio program or event.

 

Elevarte Community Studio

mailing address: po box 08191
at residence at Dvorak Park, 1119 W. Cullerton

Chicago, Il 60608

Add us to your address book

 

Copyright (C) 2013 Elevarte Community Studio All rights reserved.

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]]> http://eighteenthstreet.org/blog/2013/03/13/elevarte-community-studio-be-part-of-the-ripple-effect-for-peace/feed/ 0 National Development Council- Last Call for Projects! http://eighteenthstreet.org/blog/2013/03/13/national-development-council-last-call-for-projects/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=national-development-council-last-call-for-projects http://eighteenthstreet.org/blog/2013/03/13/national-development-council-last-call-for-projects/#comments Wed, 13 Mar 2013 19:28:30 +0000 Administrator http://eighteenthstreet.org/blog/?p=2329
NDC Academy 2013 - Washington, D.C. - Delivering community results in difficult times...

Last Call for Projects:  Submit by March 18!
The National Development Council is pleased to recognize the country’s most dedicated and innovative community development professionals and their work through our peer-selected NDC Academy 2013 Awards. Submit your project for the chance to exhibit your work at the Academy and on Capitol Hill.  The projects that receive the most votes will win an NDC Academy 2013 Award (plus free tuition to an NDC course of your choice)!  Projects may be submitted in four categories:  Creative Financing, Job Creation, Housing Development, Community Development.

Visit NDCAcademy2013.org for all the details. Carefully review the Project Submission Instructions, Selection Criteria and Display Guidelines to prepare your project for submission by March 18, 2013, 5pm ET.  Finally, complete the easy-to-use online Project Submission Form by clicking here.
]]> http://eighteenthstreet.org/blog/2013/03/13/national-development-council-last-call-for-projects/feed/ 0 Help For Windy City Hoops http://eighteenthstreet.org/blog/2013/03/13/help-for-windy-city-hoops/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=help-for-windy-city-hoops http://eighteenthstreet.org/blog/2013/03/13/help-for-windy-city-hoops/#comments Wed, 13 Mar 2013 19:27:23 +0000 Administrator http://eighteenthstreet.org/blog/?p=2327 A few weeks ago, Mayor Emanuel and basketball great Isiah Thomas announced Windy City Hoops, a basketball program targeted at providing youth a safe and productive option for their free time in communities that have been hardest hit by violence. That same day, the Park District launched an online donation campaign to raise the funds necessary <http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/windy-city-hoops/x/516566> to support this year-round basketball league.

The Mayor announced today that they have lowered the goal for Windy City Hoops through of generous donations to the Parks Foundation, and are in the home stretch<http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/windy-city-hoops/x/516566> to making this league a reality. They only have $25,000 left to raise. Plus, if they can raise the final $25,000 in one week (by midnight next Wednesday), a partner has agreed to throw in another $25,000 on top of it, so I’d appreciate if you could all share the news. Every dollar counts!

]]> http://eighteenthstreet.org/blog/2013/03/13/help-for-windy-city-hoops/feed/ 0 Woodstock Institute- Reminder: Briefing on disparities in mortgage lending to women http://eighteenthstreet.org/blog/2013/03/13/woodstock-institute-reminder-briefing-on-disparities-in-mortgage-lending-to-women/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=woodstock-institute-reminder-briefing-on-disparities-in-mortgage-lending-to-women http://eighteenthstreet.org/blog/2013/03/13/woodstock-institute-reminder-briefing-on-disparities-in-mortgage-lending-to-women/#comments Wed, 13 Mar 2013 19:24:25 +0000 Administrator http://eighteenthstreet.org/blog/?p=2324
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Reminder: Briefing on disparities in mortgage lending to women

March 13, 2013

  
Please join us for a briefing call on our new fact sheet, Unequal Opportunity: Disparate Mortgage Origination Patterns for Women in the Chicago Area.

Female mortgage applicants are less likely to have their loans originated than are male mortgage applicants, Woodstock Institute finds in a new fact sheet. The Institute also found evidence that female-headed joint applications (a female applicant with a male co-applicant) are less likely to have mortgages originated than are male-headed joint applications (a male applicant with a female co-applicant).

Speakers at the briefing will go over the findings and what they mean for the Chicago area.

Thursday, March 14, 2013 from 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM (CDT)
Register for the briefing

Speakers will include:
Spencer Cowan, Woodstock Institute
Angie Glover, The Law Project
K. Sujata, Chicago Foundation for Women

For call-in information, please register for the call.

 
 Recent Work

File IconUnequal Opportunity: Disparate Mortgage Origination Patterns for Women in the Chicago Area
March 2013

File IconSecond Half 2012 Foreclosure Filings and Auctions
February 2013 

File IconComing Up Short: The Scope of Retirement Insecurity in Illinois
September 2012

[+] View All Publications

Upcoming Events

Save the date for Woodstock Institute’s 40th Anniversary research symposium and gala
October 2-3, 2013
Chicago, IL

 

29 E. Madison, Suite 1710 | Chicago, Illinois 60602-4566 | (312) 368-0310 tel | (312) 368-0316 fax

 

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