CHICAGO – In order to promote investment and equity in underserved communities, State Senator Patricia Van Pelt (D-Chicago) is encouraging West Side community organizations to apply for state grants under the Restore, Reinvest and Renew (R3) grant program.

“The communities that I represent have long suffered from a lack of investment and opportunity,” Van Pelt said. “The R3 program was created with communities like West Garfield Park and Humboldt Park in mind, and organizations who are in such areas should apply.”

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CHICAGO – State Senator Patricia Van Pelt (D-Chicago) released the following statement after the Chicago Teacher’s Union voted to return to remote learning Tuesday night:

“This is a trying time for all of us. The education of our children is a primary concern; however, the safety of our children and our educators must be our highest concern. I trust the experts who are closest to this problem to create safe, equitable solutions.

“Though vaccinations and booster shots are widely available, COVID-19 and its variants are to be taken seriously. Educators have triumphed through a lot of the pandemic’s challenges, and they should be trusted to do what is best for the health of their classrooms.”

CHICAGO – Last week the White House made new commitments to combat the nation’s obtuse rates of maternal mortality, and State Senator Patricia Van Pelt (D-Chicago) is excited to see a plan on a national level.

Tuesday was declared a Maternal Health Day of Action, identifying ways that federal and state governments can support mothers before, during and after childbirth. One initiative includes an investment of over $3 billion from the Build Back Better Act for maternal health funding.

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CHICAGO – Senator Patricia Van Pelt (D-Chicago) is outraged after the Aldi in West Garfield Park abruptly closed in October, and is worried about resident’s wellbeing in lieu of the West Side becoming a food desert.

“This closure is devastating to the community because a lot of people depended on this Aldi for convenient and affordable food,” Van Pelt said. “In particular, many older residents got their groceries from here. This is not just an affordability issue, but a mobility issue as well.”

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