DuPage County District 5 Updates for Spring 2021

Spring 2021 newsletter for DuPage County Board District 5

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DuPage County Opens COVID Vaccine Clinic

DuPage County, IDPH Partner on COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic

DuPage County Board Chairman Dan Cronin and Board of Health President Sam Tornatore welcomed U.S. Reps. Sean Casten, Bill Foster, and Lauren Underwood to the opening of the DuPage County Community Vaccination Clinic in February at the DuPage County Fairgrounds.

The DuPage County Health Department and the Illinois Department of Public Health  partnered to expand the operations of the County’s COVID-19 Community Vaccination Clinic in March, which will allow for increased hours of operation and vaccinating residents at a quicker pace.

The County also expanded COVID-19 vaccine appointments to people eligible in Phase 1B+, including persons 16 to 64 years old with comorbidities and underlying conditions, as well as individuals with disabilities. The clinic operates by appointment only from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays.

The clinic will continue to be operated and staffed by Health Department employees and volunteers, while the state will provide the vaccine supply necessary. With the additional vaccines, the clinic will have the ability to operate at capacity and administer more than 1,000 vaccines per day. Vaccinations will continue to be available by appointment only. To register, please visit www.dupagehealth.org/covid19vaccine.


Economic Update

Chavez, Covert Update Choose DuPage on Diversity Efforts

DuPage County Economic Development Committee Chairwoman Amy Chavez and Strategic Planning Committee Chairwoman Sadia Covert attended the Choose DuPage Board’s quarterly meeting in March to discuss the County’s ongoing diversity and inclusion initiatives.

                   

NEWS YOU CAN USE

Early Voting Underway
Early voting is currently underway! In-person voting is taking place at the DuPage County Fairgrounds until April 5. Voting takes place on weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. and on weekends from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. To see a list of early voting sites, visit www.dupageco.org/election.

Student Workers Needed
The DuPage County Clerk’s Office is looking for student workers for the April 6 election. Students will need to work from about 6:30 to 10 p.m. and will be paid $11 an hour. A Social Security number and driver’s license or student ID will be required. If you have questions, please contact the Clerk’s Office’s Election Division at (630) 407-5618.

Sustainable Design Challenge Registration Opens
DuPage County Stormwater Management and SCARCE are now accepting project proposals from local high school students for the 15th annual Sustainable Design Challenge. Registration will be open through April 16, and final projects are due April 23. For information on participating in this year’s challenge, visit www.scarce.org/sustainable-design2021.

County Announces Transportation Plan
DuPage County’s Division of Transportation announced its 2021 Highway Capital Program on Feb. 16, which focuses on maintaining and improving the County’s infrastructure. For additional information and to view a full list of the DuPage County transportation projects, visit www.dupageco.org/dot/construction.

Animal Services Announces Upcoming Webinars
DuPage County Animal Services will host their first round of Zoom webinars for 2021 beginning this month! All webinars will be held from 7 to 8 p.m. Some of the programs include learning about ways to protect animals, myths about suburban wildlife, figuring out what pet is right for you, and many more. To register for a webinar, please visit www.dupageco.org/animalservices. Webinars can be found under the Upcoming Events tab.

                   

Covert, DeSart Tour Updated Judicial Facilities

DeSart tours Judicial facility

DuPage County Board members Sadia Covert and Dawn DeSart toured the County’s Judicial Office Facility in February to observe improvements made to make courtrooms safe as jury trials resumed during the COVID-19 pandemic. The County Board allocated $13 million in federal COVID relief funds toward remodeling projects that updated County facilities to further protect visitors, clients, and staff during the pandemic.

Covert Judicial Offices Tour

Giving DuPage Days Begins Apr. 26

Giving DuPage Days

Looking for a way to support your local community? Giving DuPage Days will take place from April 26 to 30 with a goal to raise $300,000 for more than 100 local nonprofit organizations serving DuPage County.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, countless residents turned to community organizations for services. Giving DuPage Days is a countywide event to create awareness and raise funds for organizations that:

  • Provide food to insecure populations
  • Advocate for abused, neglected children
  • Create housing solutions and services
  • Teach educational and literacy programs
  • Serve seniors in our community
  • Deliver access to healthcare & medical support services
  • Empower people with disabilities
  • Offer programs for children and youth
  • Foster pets and sheltering animals

To learn more, visit www.givingdupageday.org, or email givingdupage@dupageco.org.


Chavez Economic Update Forum

Chavez Participates in Discussion on Mental Health in the Workplace

Chairman Dan Cronin and County Board Economic Committee Chairwoman Amy Chavez participated in a Zoom discussion regarding mental health in the workplace during the Choose DuPage Chairman’s breakfast in February.


DeSart SAFE-T Law

DeSart Discusses SAFE-T Law with Local Officials

County Board member Dawn DeSart moderated a panel discussion in March on the SAFE-T law, which was signed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker in February. Panelists included State Rep. Anne Stava-Murray, Regina Brent of Unity Partnership, Paul Scott of Unity Partnership, DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick, and Naperville Police Chief Robert Marshall.


County, College of DuPage Unite Against Racism

Chairman Dan Cronin and the College of DuPage have partnered on Unite Against Racism, a collaboration that explores racial equity, diversity, and inclusion. This spring, the County and College have launched the E4 discussion series that will explore equity in economics, education, and enforcement of the law. To watch the first panel discussion exploring economic opportunities for minority business owners in DuPage visit youtu.be/Q6J5qV9y-mw.

To learn more about this initiative and to read a blog post about the County’s efforts, go to www.cod.edu/about/chaps-unite-against-racism/blog/important-countywide.aspx.


Black History Month

County Board Recognizes Black History Month

DuPage County Board Chairman Dan Cronin welcomed representatives from the College of DuPage and historian Glennette Tilley Turner to accept the County Board’s annual proclamation honoring Black History Month on Feb. 9. Turner and COD collaborated with the County and experts from the DuPage Historical Museum and Naper Settlement on a video history of the Underground Railroad in DuPage County. To view the video, please visit www.facebook.com/watch/?v=451918689191346.


Sadia Covert speaking with Hinsdale Central students

Covert Speaks with Students on Islamic Culture

County Board member Sadia Covert spoke with Hinsdale Central High School students during a celebration of Islamic Culture Week.

MEET DISTRICT 5

Meet District 5