Dear Neighbors, I hope everyone had a good and safe Halloween! I want to let everyone know the Illinois Homeowners Assistance Fund (ILHAF) is re-launching TODAY. The application, requirements, and more information can be found here. If you need assistance applying or have any questions, please reach out to my office via email or phone: info@repdagmara.org or 815-372-0085. I also want to remind everyone about election day on November 8th. No matter your political party, we can all agree how important it is to participate in our democracy by casting your vote in all elections. To find more information on your sample ballot, visit the Illinois Board of Elections website. The student loan forgiveness application through the federal government is now live. Click here to fill out the application and learn about eligibility requirements. Wishing everyone a meaningful Thanksgiving, |
|
|
OUT AND ABOUT If you would like to invite me to an event, meeting, or to tour your facility, please reach out to my office at info@repdagmara.org. |
|
|
To start off October, I hosted a shred event with the Village of Romeoville and Representative Manley. We were able to help families shred thousands of pounds of documents to safely get rid of important documents. Stay tuned for our next shred event planned for next year! |
|
|
I had the opportunity to visit the DeKalb County Farm Bureau, tour a livestock farm, ride in a combine, and learn about the whiskey making process at Whiskey Acres. The Illinois Farm Bureau's Adopt-a-Legislator program connects suburban legislators with farmers so they can learn more about the importance of farming. I learned a lot and I'm looking forward to continuing the partnership! |
|
|
I participated in the Hispanic State Employees Training Conference's panel on Effective Legislative Advocacy with some of my colleagues. We talked about the process of passing a bill, the challenges we face when we're trying to pass a bill, and what individuals can do to advocate for a bill. |
|
|
Angelic Kindness hosted their Betting on Kindness Gala in October. It was a great time playing casino games, visiting with community members, and raising money for a good cause. Angelic Kindness is a non-profit that has a goal of spreading kindness while expecting nothing in return. To learn more about their work, click here. |
|
|
My staff and I participated in a trunk-or-treat in Lockport hosted by Grand Dental, the Lockport Township Park District, and Shepherd on the Hill Church. We had so much fun handing out candy, coloring books, and resources to the kids and their families. |
|
|
I joined Mayor Noak and Senator Cappel on one of Romeoville's Ride Around Towns. We met at Grand Haven in Romeoville with Grand Haven residents, and toured all around Romeoville while we discussed important issues. If you would like to join a ride around town with Mayor Noak, contact Olivia at 815-886-5636 |
|
|
My staff and I had so much fun joining the Village of Romeoville for their annual Halloween Fest. We handed out candy and coloring books with many other organizations in the trunk-or-treat section of the event. Families could also participate in carnival rides, watch flame throwers, get free pumpkins, and more! |
|
|
I joined the Bolingbrook Chamber of Commerce for their Work Force Academy at Bolingbrook High School. This is a partnership between the Chamber and BHS’s CTE program with the mission of helping create a vibrant work force for the area. In each session the Chamber brings local business and community leaders to help reinforce classroom lessons. The presentations present real-world applications and examples. Work Force Academy is in it’s 6th semester at BHS. |
|
|
After the Peanut hosted a Halloween STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics) event where kids could experience the fun of STEAM with flying bats, pumpkin candy catapults, Halloween makeup, the science behind haunted houses, and more. My staff was also there to pass out state resources and other goodies for families. |
|
|
To end October, I participated in Lockport Township High School's career week, where I spoke to students who are interested in a career in public service. Speaking to young people is one of my favorite parts of my job, and I truly enjoyed seeing how engaged the students were during the conversation. |
|
|
We will be celebrating Veterans Day on November 11th, so I wanted to take the time to thank all of our Veterans for their service, and highlight programs that Veterans have available to them. Click here to learn about the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs. The VA offers healthcare, advocacy, education, and more to Veterans. The Village of Romeoville has a multitude of programs dedicated to Veterans, including a Veteran's Registry. The Veterans Commission will use the registry to provide information on programs and opportunities for Veterans in the community. Click here to see the registry and the other resources available through the Village. The American Legion Post 1288 serves Veterans in the greater Bolingbrook area. The American Legion Post 52 serves Veterans in the Romeoville area. The American Legion Post 18 serves Veterans in the Lockport area. The VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) Post 5788 serves the Lockport area and hosts meetings on the first Wednesday of each month at 7pm. The VFW Post 5917 serves Bolingbrook Veterans and meets the fourth Monday of each month at 8pm at 251 Canterbury Ln, Bolingbrook. To see all Veterans Organizations located in Will County, click here.
|
|
|
As I mentioned at the beginning of the newsletter, IHDA is relaunching their Homeowners Assistance Fund, today, November 1st. Click here to view the ILHAF website to learn more about the program and the requirements. You must submit proof that you have met with your lender or a HUD certified agency. Below are the HUD certified agencies that serve Will County: |
|
|
|
|
