Friday, May 22, 2026

From Albany Park and our surrounding neighborhood communities, brought to you by North River Commission!

NRC Updates

Building Capacity to Better Serve Our Communities

Over the past two weeks, I had the opportunity to attend two impactful events focused on strengthening the small business ecosystem and building greater capacity among organizations that serve our communities. These experiences reinforced the importance of collaboration, resource-sharing, and staying connected to the evolving needs of entrepreneurs and neighborhood-based organizations.

The first event, the CEO Symposium at The Hatchery, hosted by Old National Bank and the Spanish Coalition for Housing, brought together business-serving organizations, financial institutions, and city resources dedicated to empowering small businesses. The symposium provided valuable insight into the many programs and tools available to entrepreneurs, while also highlighting the critical connection between economic mobility, housing stability, and homeownership as pathways to generational wealth. Events like these are essential because they help organizations like the North River Commission and our Chamber of Commerce stay informed and connected to the resources that can directly benefit the businesses and residents we serve.

The second event, Capacity Building for Capacity Builders, hosted by Loyola University, convened chambers of commerce and business-serving organizations from across the city for meaningful conversations around organizational growth and sustainability. Through expert panels on capacity building, funding strategies, and data management for reporting, as well as collaborative roundtable discussions, participants were able to share challenges, exchange solutions, and identify opportunities for partnership. These conversations are invaluable in helping organizations strengthen operations, improve service delivery, and expand community impact.

For the North River Commission and the Chamber of Commerce, participating in spaces like these is more than professional development—it is an investment in our communities. Building relationships with peer organizations, learning from industry experts, and sharing resources allows us to better advocate for and support small businesses across our neighborhoods. Collaboration remains one of the strongest tools we have in creating thriving commercial corridors, supporting entrepreneurs, and ensuring our communities continue to grow stronger together.

If you are a business owner—or know a business that could benefit from support—our office is here to provide free services and connect you with valuable resources.

Together in service,

Katherine "Kay" Villamin, Executive Director

Support Our Local Families Going Through Hardship

Ongoing federal enforcement activity has left many of our beloved neighbors in extreme hardship. With community members, many of whom are parents, being detained suddenly and without due process, many families in the neighborhood are not only losing their loved ones but also losing a source of support or income to keep their families afloat.

Please help us support our neighbors financially through these devastating times. Your donations to our Affected Families Fund goes directly to families to supplement their bills, groceries, household supplies, and essential care.

You can also support our neighbors by donating non-perishable foods to the Community Food Pantries at Nighthawk (4744 N Kimball Ave) and Restoried Bookshop (4613 N Kedzie Ave).

DON'T MISS OUT!

INVITING ALL BUSINESS OWNERS!

Built to Last: Future Proofing Small Businesses for the Next Generation

May 27, 2026 from 5:00-8:00pm

2951 W Montrose Ave

Join us for an evening of celebration, connection, and practical support as we close out AAPI Heritage Month in Albany Park.

This free community event brings together small business owners, entrepreneurs, and neighbors to uplift and invest in the AAPI business community. Whether you’re running a long-standing business, just getting started, or exploring an idea, this event is designed to connect you with the tools and people you need.

Hear from a panel of Asian American business owners at different stages of their journeys as they share insights on how to future-proof your business—covering topics like adapting to the digital landscape, succession planning, and preparing for long-term growth or transition.

Connect directly with local partners offering resources for small businesses. Enjoy a “Noodles Party” featuring dishes from across Asian cultures, and spend the evening building relationships with fellow entrepreneurs and community members.

This event is presented by North River Commission and the Albany Park Chamber of Commerce. Thank you to Fifth Third Bank for sponsoring this event!

Pride and Joy

June 4, 2026 from 6-9pm

4146 N Elston Ave

Kick off Pride Month by celebrating loud and proud with us! 🌈 🪩 🎤

Join us at Color Club for this celebration aimed at uplifting the LGBTQ+ and arts community. Sing your heart out in karaoke, make a keepsake craft led by Hey, I Thought of You and watch amazing drag performances by Totomiko.

Half of ticket proceeds will go to benefit local mutual aid, featuring a raffle! You won't want to miss out 💃💃🕺🕺

Flavors of Albany Park: Tickets now on sale!

June 24, 2026

You won't want to miss out on Chicago's biggest restaurant crawl! Get your tickets today.

Volunteer at Flavors of Albany Park

June 24, 2026

Support our biggest event of the year and get half off your Flavors ticket!

Volunteer options include: Participant check-in, restaurant support, parking lot activities, breakdown.

Community Events

North River Youth Council presents: Our Time, Our City

May 30

3436 W Wilson Ave

Join us for a free youth-centered community gathering in Albany Park with awareness-building discussions, opportunities to connect with elected officials, and connection to local resources.

Light bites from Primetime!

Entre Comunidad: Community Fundraiser

June 4 from 6:30-9pm

2951 W Montrose Ave

Join us for Entre Comunidad, Latino Union’s community fundraiser bringing together organizers, workers, artists, allies, and supporters for an evening centered on connection, solidarity, and collective care.

At a time when immigrant communities need support more than ever, this event helps sustain Latino Union’s organizing and advocacy alongside day laborers and domestic workers across Chicago. The evening will include food, music, community, and opportunities to directly support our work.

First Annual Albany Park Community Garage Sale

June 6 from 10-4pm

All across Albany Park (Map)

Join us with over 100+ sellers at the First Annual Albany Community Garage Sale. Your next great find is hiding in Albany Park! Discover things you didn't know you needed and support your neighbors all at the same time!

Economic Development + Business Resources

Small Business Connections: Linking Small Businesses to Big Opportunities!

May 27 from 10am-12pm

6301 S Halsted St

Join us to learn about upcoming projects and contracting opportunities at the Chicago Transit Authority and discover how your small business can get involved.  This event will highlight partnership opportunities, provide insights on how to compete for contracts, and connect you with key resources, all while exploring professional service opportunities in the technology services and opportunities through our General Engineering Consultant (GEC) program to help keep Chicago moving.

Chicago Small Business Study

The College of Business at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) is partnering with the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce (CCC) to facilitate this year’s small business research study. The aim of this annual survey is to identify the issues, needs, and concerns of small businesses, with the aim of guiding policy and research to facilitate the success of small businesses in the Chicagoland area. We’re asking that you complete this brief (5-minute) survey to tell us about your small business.

Survey participants can enter to win a pair of Southwest Airline ticket vouchers. Participants will also receive a copy of the final report. Thank you for your input!

Citywide Adopt-a-Landmark Fund

Due August 10 at 4pm

The Citywide Adopt-A-Landmark Fund provides grants to support the restoration of designated landmark buildings and structures throughout Chicago. The funds are generated by downtown construction projects that contribute to the Neighborhood Opportunity Bonus system. 

Properties that qualify for Adopt-A-Landmark grants include individually designated landmarks and contributing buildings in designated landmark districts. Adopt-A-Landmark Fund projects must meet the following conditions:

• Restoration projects must be consistent with Commission on Chicago Landmarks (CCL) standards and guidelines

• Scope of work must involve an exterior renovation that’s visible from the street or interior work that's accessible by the public, and routine maintenance is not eligible

• The CCL must approve the scope of work and associated budget for the restoration project pursuant to its standard review and approval process 

Selected projects require the review and approval of the full Landmarks Commission and potentially its Permit Review Committee. Grant amounts in excess of $250,000 require additional approval from City Council.

Help Save LD Pho!

As many of you have seen, the doors at LD Pho are temporarily closed. After 9 years of serving us, the weight of back-dated SBA loans and tax obligations has become a mountain too high for Liu to climb alone.

Liu has worked tirelessly to keep LD Pho alive, but right now, the city has sidelined our favorite neighborhood spot. We have a goal to raise $50,000 to clear these debts, reinstate the business license, and get the kitchen fired back up as soon as possible!

👉 HOW TO HELP:

1. Click the link below to donate to the GoFundMe.

2. Share this fundraiser with anybody you know. Anything helps. Let’s bring Liu back! 🍜✨

Chicago Business Licensing: Pop-up Host/Operator

May 27 from 3-4:30am

Learn about Pop Up licensing, including eligibility requirements, application process and required documents. There will be an opportunity to ask questions at the end of the webinar.

Everything You Need To Know About Business Insurance

May 29 from 9:30-11am

In this session, attendees will learn the coverages needed for their business. We'll discuss the right questions to ask your insurance professional and how to protect yourself and your business against lawsuits.

We are a Neighborhood Business Development Center!

North River Commission is an NBDC, which means we provide free businesses development assistance. We can support with licensing and permitting, as well as technical assistance, accessing capital, and 1-on-1 business advising.

Parks + Environment

Want more trees in your neighborhood?

Last year NRC was awarded a $200,000 grant through The Morton Arboretum’s Chicago Region Trees Initiative (CRTI) to help expand Albany Park’s tree canopy and invest in a greener, healthier future for our neighborhood.

Our goal is to plant 250 trees across Albany Park by 2028 - bringing more shade, cleaner air, environmental benefits, and beauty to our community. Through this initiative, trees can be planted on private properties as well as institutional spaces including businesses, schools, places of worship, and other private properties.

Community members can explore our interactive tree map, request a tree for their property, and sign up for volunteer opportunities to support future plantings. Be sure to also check out our new CRTI campaign video on Instagram to learn more about the initiative and hear why this work matters for Albany Park.

Together, we can plant the roots for a stronger, greener Albany Park.

Take Action: Ask Your Alderperson to Support Native & Pollinator Gardens

Chicago Needs Native and Pollinator Gardens That Actually Work

Chicago’s Managed Native and Pollinator Garden Registry was created to support biodiversity, stormwater management, and climate resilience. However, the current plant height limit in parkways makes it nearly impossible for native plants to thrive and discourages residents from participating.

A simple fix is already on the table.

Ordinance O2026-0022796 would update the Municipal Code to allow native and pollinator plants in registered parkway gardens to grow up to 36 inches tall, aligning the code with native plant growing best practices while keeping gardens well-managed and safe.

Why This Matters

Native plants need height to function: pollinators, birds, and beneficial insects rely on plants that grow beyond 10 inches. 36 inches is still well below sightline and safety thresholds, and the ordinance maintains requirements that plants not encroach on sidewalks or property lines. Fill out the form to voice your support!

Arts + Culture

Crime & Punishment

May 7 - June 28, 2026 (Thurs - Sat at 7:30pm and Sun at 3pm)

TUTA Theatre: 4670 North Manor Avenue

Presented by awarding winning TUTA Theatre company comes, a sleek and fast moving 90 minute adaptation of the beloved book, "Crime and Punishment". Impoverished student Raskolnikov believes himself to be above the law and extraordinary to such an extent that he may decide who is worthy of life and of death. But that all ends when he meets Inspector Porfiry, a master of mind games who is determined to elicit a confession from the ever-more-tortured Raskolnikov. Is Raskolnikov going to crack?

Crime & Punishment

July 18 - August 8 | Tickets on sale June 18

5100 North Ridgeway Avenue

A middle-school teacher turns her classroom into a sanctuary for asylum-seeking students. A dual citizen invents her own wonderland when neither of her homelands will accept her. Three teens arrive in the United States – from Japan, from Somalia, from Sudan – and find the America they were promised doesn’t exist, so they set to work building it together.

From classrooms to kitchens to standoffs in Chicago streets, The American Project brings to the stage stories of people taking it upon themselves to write the next chapter of the American story.

Education

Chicago Youth Works Summer Jobs

Apply by May 29

Chicago Youth Works is your gateway to youth employment opportunities across the city. Work for the summer or year-round. Gain real-world experience, connect with your peers, and support

your community through four unique program options.

We proudly bring together government institutions, companies, and community-based organizations to offer employment and internship opportunities to youth and young adults ages 14 to 24.

Apply to The Odyssey Project/Proyecto Odisea

Deadline: June 15

Odyssey/Odisea is a free, college-credit bearing humanities program for income eligible adults in the Chicagoland area. We believe that education is liberatory and should be accessible to all. This free college program empowers adult learners to jump-start their education in a supportive community of students and educators.

Students who enroll in The Odyssey Project/Proyecto Odisea develop a firm foundation in the interdisciplinary humanities with courses that take place IN-PERSON from August through May. We cover subject areas that range from literature, philosophy, history, and art history to media studies, ethnic studies, and urbanism. A committed and creative group of professors from Chicago’s local universities guide Odyssey/Odisea courses, while students who complete the program earn up to 11 college credits in the humanities from the University of Illinois Chicago.

Health + Safety

Donate or get free food at a Community Food Pantry!

You can make a positive impact by donating non-perishable food to our Community Food Pantries across Albany Park today! Shop local and support our local grocers if you can! 🛒

🌎 These pantries are located at:

📍Restoried Bookshop | 4613 N Kedzie

📍Nighthawk | 4744 N Kimball

If you would like free food, visit these pantries and take what you need, no questions asked!

Housing

Foreclosure Prevention Webinar

May 28 from 6-7:30pm

Learn foreclosure prevention strategies, loss mitigation options, and how to protect your home with guidance from housing counselors.

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
The nonprofit community 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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