Check out what we've got going on this fall!

While summer may be behind us, there's still plenty happening in the neighborhood. We have some upcoming community events to look forward to, and all are free and open to the public!

Want to get involved? Keep scrolling to learn more about what's coming up and how you can join us!

Attend our Business Safety Meeting!

Recent break-ins and safety incidents have raised concerns across our business community. Join NRC, local law enforcement, and city partners for an important conversation about protecting businesses and improving neighborhood safety.

What to expect:

• Safety & Crime Prevention: Updates from the 17th District Police Department on proactive store protection, loss prevention, and seasonal safety measures.

• Community & Mental Health Support: Direct access to crisis response teams and local mental health organizations offering business support options.

• City & Ward Assistance: Insights on local services and small business navigation from the 33rd Ward Office.

• Open Q&A Panel: An open dialogue to share challenges, ask questions, and collaborate directly with key stakeholders on neighborhood safety solutions.

📅 Monday, November 2nd

🕜 9am - 11am

📍2951 W Montrose Ave

Chamber Chat & Story Circle

🤔What does Albany Park mean to you?💭

Join us at Los Barriles Restaurant & Sports Bar for a not-so-typical Chamber Chat.

Next month's Chamber Chat will be a story circle for Spaces, facilitated by APTP (Albany Park Theater Project) in partnership with the North River Commission.

Spaces Albany Park is a community-wide storytelling project exploring place, memory, and belonging in our neighborhood. Whether you've lived here for decades, recently arrived, own a business, raise a family, or go to school here—your experiences are part of Albany Park's story!

Join us for an evening of sharing and listening, mingling with local small business owners, and enjoying the ambience of the newly renovated Los Barriles. Stories gathered will help inspire a one-of-a-kind community public performance in Fall 2027!🎭

💬 Chamber Chat: Meet Community & Connect

📅 Thursday, November 12 | 5:30 - 7:30 PM

📍Los Barriles (3548 W Lawrence Ave)

Digital Marketing: Leverage the Holidays!

Learn how to "winter-proof" your business

In a world that is increasingly online, you can stay ahead of the curve. Empower your business to thrive this holiday season and beyond by joining our digital marketing series! This webinar will be presented by Kay Villamin, Executive Director of the North River Commission.

Designed for every skill level, this webinar series equips you with the tools, knowledge, and skills to transform your marketing strategy and capitalize on holiday spending. Learn from industry experts and earn a Digital Marketing Master Certificate at our end-of-year party on December 8th!

📅 November 12 | 9 - 10 AM

📍Hybrid (Zoom Meeting or at the NRC Office)

Managing Cash Flow

Part 3 of our Small Business Financial Fitness Series!

The Albany Park Chamber presents the third webinar in our four-part series, presented by Wintrust Bank.

Cash flow is the daily stamina and working energy of your business. A company can be profitable on paper but still run out of breath if money coming in doesn't line up with money going out. Grounded in FDIC problem-solving strategies, this session gives you practical tools to track, analyze, and manage the flow of cash through your business.

Learn how to create realistic cash projections, spot potential liquidity bottlenecks before they happen, and implement actionable solutions to keep your day-to-day operations running smoothly.

Whether you are launching a new startup or growing an existing company, understanding your numbers is key to building a strong, resilient business.

📅 November 10 | 9 - 10 AM

📍Virtual Meeting

NRC STAFF

North River Commission Staff

For more info, visit the North River Commission staff page:

Kay Villamin / Executive Director (nagsasalita ako ng tagalog)

Alexia Limas / Education Director (hablo español)

Eve Miller / Director of Community Impact

Elisha Jurewicz / Accounts Manager

Farah El-Nahal / Economic Development Specialist/ SSA 60 Program Manager (أنا أتكلم العربية)

Karen Milroy / Economic Development Specialist/ Albany Park Chamber Lead (mówię po polsku)

Caelin Muniz / Economic Development Specialist / Housing & Communications Lead (hablo español)

Sonya Koffman / Community Programs Coordinator / Parent Mentor Organizer (Я говорю по-русски)

FORGE School Site Coordinators

Haugan Forge Coordinator / Samantha Uribe (hablo español)

Henry Forge Coordinator / Priscilla Train (hablo español)

Peterson Forge Coordinator / Emily Berman

Roosevelt Forge Coordinator / Miranda Whitaker

Parent Mentor Program School Site Coordinators

Haugan PMP Coordinator / Lucila Esquivel (hablo español)

Hibbard PMP Coordinator / Fatima Suarez (hablo español)

Palmer PMP Coordinator / Maria Martinez (hablo español)

Cleveland PMP Coordinator / Adriana Cervera (hablo español) 

Help us continue this important work. Donations to the North River Commission directly support programs, resources, and initiatives that empower small businesses and strengthen our community.

North River Commission
We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and economic development corporation for the Northwest Side of Chicago, from the Chicago River to Cicero and Addison to Devon, which unites 100s of civic associations, businesses, schools, institutions and places of worship to improve the quality of life for all constituents in our community by creating affordable housing, quality education, community safety and resilience, equitable access to health, arts & cultural endeavors, environmental responsibility, and thriving neighborhood businesses.

northrivercommission.org / facebook.com/northrivercommission / @northrivercommission

Copyright (C) 2026 North River Commission. All rights reserved.

Our mailing address is:

3403 W Lawrence Ave, Suite 301, Chicago, IL 60625

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