Friday, May 23, 2025 | View in browser
-
Move your body! Dance, walk, or swim. The possibilities are endless.
-
Go Outside. Soak up some sunshine for a mood boost. Don't forget your sunblock.
-
Create your happy place. Turn your environment into a relaxation zone.
-
Spill your thoughts (onto paper). Journaling can be surprisingly fun and insightful.
-
Unleash your inner artist! Who says coloring is just for kids? Grab some crayons and get creative.
Department Recognition
On May 20, 2025, an anniversary ceremony was held to celebrate the years of service for staff members who have served the City for increments of 5 years. Five Health and Human Services Department staff members were recognized and received a remarkable service award. The Service Award recipients from HHS are as follows:
-
Joe Dicicco, Senior Environmental Health Practitioner is a service award recipient of 15 years.
-
Indira Perkins, Human Services Manager is a service award recipient of 10 years.
-
Elizabeth Lassiter, Senior Communicable Disease Specialist is a recipient of the service award for serving the City for 10 years.
-
Tiffany Thompson, Human Service Specialist is a service award recipient for 10 years.
-
Enas Syed, Public Health Preparedness Coordinator is a service award recipient for 5 years.
Combined, they have contributed 50 plus years of service to the City of Evanston. They are truly appreciated for their contributions.
Human Services Division
 Stay Active, Stay Connected: Register for WOW
There’s still time to register for We're Out Walking (WOW) and join your neighbors in staying active and building community. WOW Community Walks are open to everyone and take place throughout the week at various Evanston locations. Come walk with us:
-
Mondays at 5:30 p.m. — Clark Square Park (corner of Kedzie & Sheridan), starting June 2
-
Tuesdays at 7 p.m. — McGaw YMCA Chinnock Lounge, beginning June 3
-
Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m. — Clark Square Park and 6:30 p.m. at the Chicago-Main Newsstand, starting June 4
-
Fridays at 5 p.m. — South Blvd EL Stop (corner of South & Chicago)
-
Saturdays — 8 a.m. at the Levy Center Parking Lot, 9 a.m. at the Chicago-Main Newsstand, and 5:30 p.m. at Clark Square Park
-
Sundays — Gorrell Park (Chicago & McCormick)
In addition to weekly walks, WOW participants can explore a full calendar of activities, offering even more opportunities to get involved. Stay informed and connected by following the WOW Facebook page for real-time updates, reminders, and community highlights.
Explore Your Roots: Join the Family Roots Pilot Program
The City's Health and Human Services Department, in collaboration with the Reparations Committee and The African Kinship Reunion (TAKiR) Project, invites interested residents to participate in the Family Roots Pilot Program.
This initiative offers African-American descendants of enslaved individuals a unique opportunity to explore their heritage through advanced genetic genealogy and historical research. Participants will gain access to tools and resources to support personal, familial, and cultural reflection, including potential ancestral connections to Africa. The data collected is ONLY used for genealogical purposes and for no other research purposes.
FREE DNA kits are available for pickup at:
Don’t miss this chance to walk forward in wellness — and look back to discover your roots.
Ombudsman Unit
Intimacy and Aging: Navigating Sexuality in Nursing Homes
The Illinois Pioneer Coalition is providing a thoughtful and informative event designed to break the silence around intimacy in later life and promote person-centered care in long-term care settings.
Date: Friday, May 23
Time: 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Location: Helen Plum Library, 411 S Main St., Lombard, IL
Contact: eferenc@ageguide.org
This engaging session will feature a candid discussion on aging and sexuality, challenging outdated assumptions and offering tools to support older adults in maintaining satisfying intimate lives. As individuals age, traditional sexual norms may no longer apply, and adapting to changes, such as the loss of a partner or chronic illness, can impact sexual expression.
The event will explore the powerful influence of media, advertising, and pharmaceutical messaging on perceptions of aging and intimacy, while offering realistic, respectful strategies for supporting sexual wellness in long-term care.
Presenters:
-
Candice Mitchell, City's Regional Long-Term Care Ombudsman
-
Karen Lee Fontaine, RN, MSN, Sex Therapist with 35+ years of experience
Don't miss this opportunity to earn free continuing education units (CEUs) and engage in a meaningful conversation.
Special Projects Unit
 Mental Health First Aid Training is available for all
The City is sponsoring Mental Health First Aid trainings that teach you how to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental health challenges and substance use disorders, equipping you to respond to a mental health crisis with compassion and confidence.
We are pleased to announce the following upcoming training opportunities. Through Participatory Budgeting funding, all costs for community members will be covered, so you will not be charged to participate. Click your desired training date and fill out a brief registration form to register.
While the training is provided at no cost to our community members, there are expenses associated with your participation and limits on class sizes. If your plans change and you can no longer attend after signing up for a date, please let us know ASAP.
All trainings require two hours of virtual pre-work that must be completed before the in-person sessions.
We will offer more training dates in the future, so this is not your only chance to participate. Thank you, and please help us spread the word to fellow community members who may also be interested in this training!
Clean Air Ordinance
According to CDC, tobacco is the leading cause of preventable disease, disability, and death in the U.S. The department receives complaints of unlawful smoking and responds to these complaints by enforcing the Clean Air Ordinance. The Clean Air Ordinance prohibits smoking in all public enclosed areas, common areas in apartment buildings and smoking within 25 feet of any entrance of an enclosed area.
As one of the Department's public health goals, we have embarked on a number of interventions and legislation to promote tobacco cessation activities, create smoke free environments and developed actions to prevent youth from using tobacco. To learn more about the various Tobacco prevention ordinances, please visit our website.
Ongoing Initiative:
The Evanston Health Hub is a drop-in program open to all Evanston community members, offering free health screenings and resources. The Health Hub is located on the ground floor of Ebenezer AME Church at 1109 Emerson St. and operates Tuesdays and Thursdays from noon to 4 p.m.
Workforce Development Division
 Construction on the new Northlight Theatre on 1012-16 Church St. is underway. Bulley & Andrews, the project’s construction partner, are seeking local, union employees for onsite labor and will facilitate a hiring informational session on Wednesday, May 21 at the Robert Crown Community Center, Room B/C at 6 p.m.
This hiring informational session event will provide an opportunity for parties interested in employment to learn more about the project’s scope of work, construction schedule, and anticipated trade opportunities.
Only local union tradespeople interested in potential employment opportunities are encouraged to participate.
For more information and register for the event, please contact Pat Mathews at pmathews@bulley.com.
For more information, join the Workforce Development Newsletter or email workforcedevelopment@cityofevanston.org.
Public Health Division
Communicable Disease Unit
Antimicrobial Resistance: A Silent Threat to Public Health
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major public health threat. When microbes no longer respond to treatments, infections become harder to cure, raising the risk of severe illness and death. AMR impacts healthcare, agriculture, and veterinary sectors, and could eventually render antibiotics and antifungals ineffective.
Why Does AMR Matter?
- “Superbugs”, or Multidrug Resistant Organisms (MDRO's), are increasing. In the U.S., over 2.8 million AMR infections occur annually, causing more than 35,000 deaths.
- Medical procedures rely on effective antibiotics. Without them, surgeries, cancer treatments, and routine medical care of mild infections become riskier for people of all ages.
- Overuse and misuse drive resistance. Unnecessary antibiotic use in humans, animals, and agriculture accelerates the rate of AMR.
What Can You Do?
-
Use antibiotics only when prescribed – Never take leftover or unprescribed medication.
-
Complete your full course of treatment – Stopping early can allow bacteria to survive and adapt.
-
Prevent infections – Wash your hands, get vaccinated, and practice good hygiene.
-
Support responsible antibiotic use – Advocate for policies that reduce overuse in agriculture and healthcare.
Together, we can slow the spread of AMR. Share this message to help raise awareness! Learn more at the CDC's Antimicrobial Resistance page.
 Measles Cases are now in Illinois
The first measles case of the year in Illinois was announced on April 23, an adult in far southern Illinois. As of May, additional cases have been identified, including two cases in Cook County, bringing the statewide case total to 8. There are no known cases in Evanston. Nationwide, there have been 1,024 cases reported.
Evanston HHS reminds all residents to locate written documentation of MMR or other proof of immunity to measles. If written documentation cannot be found, it is recommended that you get an MMR vaccine as soon as possible through your healthcare provider or local pharmacy. Those who have contact to measles cases, without proof of immunity, will be asked to quarantine.
For questions, contact your healthcare provider or the Evanston Health and Human Services Department at 847-448-4311.
Thank you for learning more about us! Don't hesitate to contact any of our divisions.
Have a great day,
City of Evanston Health and Human Services Department
|
