Hi neighbors,

With City Council not meeting in August, I’m using the month to hone in on opportunities to preserve and build more affordably priced homes for neighbors in our ward and across Chicago. This week, I met with local nonprofit Impact for Equity about its recently released report detailing how the Chicago Housing Authority can use its existing resources more successfully—including building homes on vacant CHA land. I also met with the Chicagoland Apartment Association and the Chicago Association of Realtors regarding my proposal to adopt common-sense limitations on runaway move-in fees. 

With the start of CPS’s school year fast approaching, my office will be hosting office hours for School Board Members Ellen Rosenfeld, Karen Zaccor, and Debby Pope in the coming weeks. You can sign up for a 15-minute slot to discuss critical issues including the District’s budget, school facilities, and curriculum. If you’re unsure which Member represents you, please use this lookup tool.

Congratulations to the winning mural for the new people spot at Damen and Leland! My thanks to the nearly 3,000 residents who voted on the various mural proposals, as well as to the Greater Ravenswood Chamber of Commerce for spearheading this wonderful arts initiative. And please join me in welcoming a new business to our dynamic community—Traffic Jam! Swing, a swing-focused dance school on Ravenswood near Belle Plaine.



I hope you all have an enjoyable weekend. If you’re looking for something to do, consider swinging by Colectivo Ravenswood tomorrow (Saturday) and Sunday to celebrate National Coffee month, as well as the Rally for Trans Youth Lives downtown on Sunday at 1pm.

Yours in service,

Ald Matt Martin

Get Crafty: Free All Day Activities

Get ready for an exciting afternoon of arts and crafts at the corner of Lincoln & Berenice! This event will feature tons of hands-on crafty fun for all ages.

We're excited to announce our free all day activities, including:

• Art Supply Swap
• Color by Numbers Community Mural
• Make Your Own Bracelet
• Fix Your Own Plushie
• Sensory Bins
• Face Painting
• Mini Canvases 
• Flower Craft
• Sidewalk Chalk
• And much more!

Learn more

Winner: New Mural at Ravenswood

A new mural is coming to Ravenswood thanks to the Greater Ravenswood Chamber of Commerce! And you helped choose it.

After a community vote with record participation, you chose Alex Perkins' Eye Spy Ravenswood Design which will be installed near the People Spot at Damen and Leland. Thanks to the Greater Ravenswood Chamber of Commerce for their continued investment in public art.

Learn more

Ward Night: Let's Talk about Housing

Tuesday, August 26th

Chicago is facing an affordable housing crisis. Since 2010, Lincoln Square and North Center lost affordability at one of the fastest rates in the City. Let's talk about what we've done so far, and what more we can do to address rising housing costs.

Drop by Gio's Bar and Grill (4857 N Damen) for ourupcoming Ward Night that's all about housing. It's an opportunity to connect with your neighbors, enjoy a great local business, and engage directly with the Alderman about the housing challenges we face. Bring your questions, concerns, and ideas.

RSVP

Welles Park Bird Identification Walk

Monday, August 18th

Join Chicago Public Libraries for a walk through Welles Park and learn how to spot and identify birds in your neighborhood. Weather permitting, they will walk outside for some live bird watching. Binoculars are available to share. After the walk, there will be a fun game of bird trivia.

Learn more

Porchfest Roscoe Village

Sunday, August 17th

Porchfest is a music festival that takes place on front porches. With neighbors hosting the concerts and local musicians performing, it captures the essence of the Roscoe Village community. While you stroll, grab a few bites to eat and shop exclusive discounts. You event guide will include a map of porch locations and coupons for local businesses. Your ticket goes directly to supporting the musicians.

Learn more

Apply: 47th Ward Youth Council

The Youth Council is a group is a group of students in grades 8-12 who work to engage and empower young people across the ward.

Members consult the Alderman on legislative priorities, volunteer across the ward, organize community events, and weigh in on infrastructure decisions. It's a great opportunity to make your voice heard and shape the future of our community.

Youth Council members meet twice per month at the ward office (4243 N Lincoln Ave).

Apply

Survey: Chicago Flood Damage

Chicago's Office of Emergency Management is asking for assistance in compiling damage reports from residents impacted by recent storms in the city from July 25 - July 27. If your home experienced damage in the recent storms, please consider filling out this brief survey to help emergency management personnel better understand the damage that occurred.

Survey

Apply: Arts Relief Fund Program

Deadline: August 20th at 2 PM CT

The federal government recently defunded long standing arts and humanities programs. Chicago's DCASE Arts Relief Fund supports arts and culture organizations impacted by these cuts and losses. These grants are one-time only and meant to replace income and opportunities lost through terminated or withdrawn federal funding.

Learn more

Join the 47th Ward Treekeepers

The 47th Ward Treekeepers Chapter held a street tree pruning event on Thursday in Lincoln Square. 10 trained volunteers pruned 64 trees and had lots of educational conversations with neighbors about caring for their trees.

This is a part of a series of pruning events they are conducting throughout the summer in the ward. You can become a certified Treekeeper by taking the upcoming Fall course.

Learn more

C3 Sustainability Leadership Training

Monday, August 11th

Chicago Conservation Corps' Fall 2025 Sustainability Leadership Training is your way to spark change in your community. You will receive training from C3 Experts representing established organizations already invested in sustainability work. After completing the Sustainability Leadership Training, C3 Leaders become sustainability champions in their communities and receive funds and individualized museum staff support for an unlimited number of sustainability projects.

To participate in the training course, you must be 18+ to attend an information session and submit a short application. Class will be held online at via Zoom on Tuesday evenings 6 PM to 8 PM, September 30th - November 18th.

Learn more

Heat Resiliency Survey

Extreme heat is a growing public health threat in our city, especially for vulnerable communities. The Defusing Disasters Project is developing a citywide Heat Vulnerability Index (HVI) to identify areas most at-risk and shape life-saving heat resilience strategies.

As we approach the anniversary of the 1995 Heat Wave, they want your input. Their team has drafted 30 community-informed recommendations to address heat-related health risks. They're asking you to help choose the top 7 ideas to advance to City Council for action.

Learn more

Free Hotdogs at Ravenswood Tavern on Sundays

1829 W Montrose

Ravenswood Tavern is offering free hotdogs every Sunday from 12 PM to 4 PM while supplies last. Sunday Fundays at Ravenswood Tavern are a way of life. Come for games, drinks, and the dawgs.

Learn more

Resources

Business

• Ravenswood Security Camera Rebate Program, Learn more
• Doing Business with Cook County Government, Learn more

Workforce

• Timeline Theatre Facility Manager Job, Learn more
• American Job Center at Truman College, Learn more
• Chicago Department of Transportation Jobs, Learn more
• Greater West Town Woodworking Training, Learn more

Public Safety Community Fair

Saturday, September 27th

Come celebrate public safety awareness and preparedness month. Stop by to meet City of Chicago professionals, experience live demonstrations, connect with recruiters, and participate in family friendly activities.

Learn more

Upcoming Public Safety Meetings

• Beat 2033, August 6th
• Find your beat

Public Safety Data



• Inspector General Public Safety Data
• Chicago Violence Reduction Dashboard
• Civilian Office of Police Accountability Data
• Town Hall with UChicago Crime Labs

Construction Updates

Find more information about ongoing projects on our website, including the Damen street resurfacing, the Clark Street pedestrian and bike safety project, water main projects, and work near the Western Brown Line.

Ashland Resurfacing

Ashland Avenue is slated to be repaved starting later this month from School to Clark. This repaving will involve improvements to pedestrian safety, including curb extensions and refuge islands, as well as bus bulbs benefiting the #9 bus.

The 47th and 40th Wards are hosting a virtual pre-construction meeting with CDOT at 6pm on Wednesday 8/20 to share more construction information with impacted residents. Register for the meeting.

Western Brown Line Construction

Crews have completed necessary work at Lincoln & Leland and are in the process of closing up and restoring the intersection and adjacent sidewalks. Because of a delay involving the Water Department, they are no longer able to reopen the intersection to traffic the week of 8/11. At Alderman Martin's urging, they will be working overnight to make up the lost time with the goal of opening the intersection to vehicle traffic early the week of 8/18 (weather permitting).

This Weekend

• Repair Cafe (no jewelry), August 9th, Learn more
• Rally for Trans Youth Lives, August 10th, Learn more
• National Coffee Month at Colectivo Ravenswood, August 9-10, Learn more

Next Weekend

• Ravenswood Bar Crawl, August 15th, Learn more
• Vom Rhein Jailhaus Rock, August 15th, Learn more
• Public Debate: Homelessness Solutions, August 16th, Learn more
• Porchest Roscoe Village, August 17th, Learn more

Community Job Boards

Looking to work locally? Many of our local chambers of commerce offer job boards to help highlight openings at local businesses. Find more information at the following links:

• Andersonville
• Lakeview/Roscoe Village
• Lincoln Square/Ravenswood
• Northcenter
• Greater Ravenswood