Do Something REAL to Help this Earth Day!

Every year, Bridgeport unites to clean up our parks!  The Palmisano and McGuane Park Advisory Councils recently announced their Fourth Annual Bridgeport Clean and Green.  This year we'll be cleaning up Palmisano and McGuane Parks, as well as Halsted St. from 26th to 36th, 31st from Lituanica to Canal, and 35th from Racine to Shields.  It's Saturday, April 18, 2015, between 9am and 1pm.  Stop by the field house on or ask a volunteer for a bag!
 
Turnout in the past has been as many as 100, but this year it could be even more! Children are welcome, but they must be accompanied by adults.

Your checklist:

• Tools and bags will be available. 
• Gloves will be available, but the organizers would appreciate more. 
• Bring your reusable water bottles, sun protection, and work-appropriate shoes and clothing. 
• Breakfast snacks served!

Contact: Maureen at 773-719-6655 with questions.

Format For 11th Ward Aldermanic Forum: Three candidates confirmed

CHICAGO – The Bridgeport Alliance today announced the format for a forum with candidates running for Alderman of the 11th ward. The 2015 election marks the first time in over three decades that an incumbent is not running for the seat. The debate is scheduled to be held January 25 at 3:00pm at First Trinity Lutheran Church at 643 W 31st Street.

“Eleventh ward residents have a clean slate this year,” said Bridgeport Alliance chairperson Ruby Pinto. “During the debate we’re hoping to learn about the candidates and equip voters with the knowledge to confidently cast their ballots on February 24.” 

Each candidate will be given three minutes for an opening statement. Opening statements will be followed by questions that have been submitted by 11th Ward residents. Prior to the forum, candidates were given a list of the topics to be addressed, but not specific questions.

Candidates will have two minutes to answer each question. The event is a forum as opposed to a debate and candidates are encouraged to answer the questions directly.

Questions will be posed in a revolving order so that no candidate is “always first” or “always has the final word.”

To conclude the forum, each candidate will offer a closing statement. After the forum, all are welcome to stay and chat with candidates, enjoy cookies and coffee, and meet neighbors.

Bridgeport Alliance has secured confirmation of attendance from all three candidates vying for the seat including John Kozlar, Maureen Sullivan and Patrick Thompson. The three confirmed candidates have all successfully gained enough signatures to be on the February ballot. 

During the planning phase, Bridgeport Alliance has invited community groups throughout the 11th ward to be co-hosts and submit questions or subjects for discussion during the debate. 

“We’re hoping to turn out a large, diverse crowd,” said Pinto. “The 11th ward is home to large numbers of Asian, Latino and European groups and we want all of them to be able to make informed decisions at the ballot box.”

A voter registration table will also be set up. Volunteers will be on hand to help individuals register to vote. 

Pinto says that the Bridgeport Alliance has secured Chinese and Spanish translators for the debate. “No one should be excluded because of a language barrier,” she said. The debate will also be recorded and made available online after the event for those who are unable to attend. 

In seeking a moderator for the debate, several candidates were vetted. Librarian Rebecca Berg was selected as the moderator for the debate. Berg has helped cull submitted questions and will promote robust discussion on topics important to residents. 

“Our next Alderman has the ability to shape the direction of the 11th ward for years to come,” said Pinto. “Residents have a duty to themselves and their neighbors in February. We’re excited for this opportunity to help set the tone and ensure that the people are heard.”

The forum will be held this Sunday

Aldermanic Forum Coming Up!

https://www.facebook.com/events/574680952658792/

All Volunteer Potluck

Sorry folks, due to unforseen circumstance the potluck at Palmisano Park was cancelled. We look forward to joining them on our neighbors for the Aug 17 Family Fun Day (5-8) with kite flying, Fishmobile, nature walks followed by Watch the Stars presented by Adler Planetarium from 8-10. Details to come.

BA In the News

Read what people are saying about last night's TIF Illuminator Workshop!

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DNA Info - TIF Workshop Illuminates Complicated Tax Projects

New Playgorund at McGuane

Great news for our friends at McGuane Park.  Contact Maureen Sullivan for info.

Friends of the Parks and the Chicago Park District have received and reviewed your community’s nomination for McGuane Playground for the Chicago Plays! Playground Renovation Program.  We are pleased to announce that McGuane Playground has been selected as the one of the first playgrounds to be built in the first year of the Chicago Plays! program.

The Chicago Plays! Program has created much excitement and has gotten Chicagoans thinking about community and its importance to their parks.  There were numerous outstanding nominations from community organizations across the city of Chicago so the decision making process was a difficult one.  The commitment and enthusiasm that your community has displayed in your application was evident and both the Chicago Park District and Friends of the Parks are excited to work with your community to make this new playground a reality.

Over the next few months we will work with you regarding the anticipated construction date and playground designs. Your community will have the opportunity to select playground equipment based on the provided designs.

Congratulations on your new playground!

Annual Earth Day Clean Up

Save the Date!

SATURDAY, APRIL 20, 2013

9:00 AM – 1:00 PM

Chicago's City Wide Clean and Green 

Volunteer Clean Up!

We will meet at the McGuane Park Field House (29th and Poplar) at 9:00 am for refreshments, including Jackalope Coffee.

Then we will hit the park and the streets to pick up trash and have fun!

We will have some tools and supplies, but everyone is encouraged to bring gloves, sunscreen, water and any tools that they might find useful.

Supervised children and teens are encouraged to participate.

Questions?

Contact info@bridgeportalliance.org

Visit the Facebook Event Page 

Flier attached

Businesses and Organizations wishing to participate please contact us no later than April 15.

This event would not be possible without the participation of the Palmisano Advisory Council and McGuane Park Advisory Council along with Bridgeport Alliance, Jackalope Coffee & Tea, Benton House, First Trinity Lutheran Church, Senior Suites, Bridgeport Citizen's Group, The City of Chicago, The Department of Streets and Sanitation and Friends of South Halsted!  We had a blast last year and hope you can join in the fun!

BRIDGEPORT ALLIANCE, COMMUNITY ACTION STOPS CLOSURE OF SOUTH SIDE SCHOOLS

BRIDGEPORT ALLIANCE

Contact: Maureen Sullivan
Tel: (773) 719-6655
maureen@southloopdigital.com

March 21, 2013

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BRIDGEPORT ALLIANCE, COMMUNITY ACTION STOPS CLOSURE OF SOUTH SIDE SCHOOLS

Bridgeport Alliance has learned that the Chicago Public Schools have decided to reverse their earlier decision and to keep Libby, Hendricks, Dewey, McClellan, Armour and Graham schools open.

While there are other schools in the affected neighborhoods that deserve to stay open, and all the information is not in yet, Bridgeport Alliance celebrates today's decision by CPS as a victory of community activism in the face of bureaucratic indifference to economically hard-hit South
Side neighborhoods.

Earlier in the year, Bridgeport Alliance reached out to neighboring Bronzeville, Back Of The Yards, Fuller Park, Chinatown and Canaryville and found lots of concern among parents about announced closures of schools but little to no organization against efforts to close neighborhood schools.

Bridgeport Alliance hosted its Public Education Forum on February 6th 2013, bringing over 80 activists by bus to the CPS public forum in Fuller Park to add to the chorus against singling out the schools in the city's most economically vulnerable areas.  Later Bridgeport Alliance school forums and meetings with Fuller Park concentrated nearly 300 activists in opposition to the CPS closure plan.

Targeted schools remain open.  Community activism works.  But the fight is not over.

Public education as a whole is in serious danger from misguided attempts to address the effects of poverty without addressing its causes.  School performance is driven by a neighborhood's economic health, not the other way around.  Neighborhoods across the South Side have served notice that
we will not let CPS,  The Board Of Education and City Hall get this wrong

If you'd like more information about this topic, or to schedule an interview with Maureen Sullivan, please call Mary Welter at (312) 339-4369 or email Bridgeport Alliance at mvawelter@gmail.com

BA in the News

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CPS School Closings Plan Has South Side Schools Making Pitch to Stay Open

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Southwest Side Braces for More CPS School Closings Forums

Ald. James Balcer: McClellan and Graham 'Should Not Close'

And, Claudia in the World Journal!