CHICAGO – State Senator Celina Villanueva (D-Chicago) and other elected officials are partnering with community organizations to distribute masks to the Little Village community on Wednesday. Mask distribution is first come, first served, with priority given to seniors.

“Little Village has the highest infection rate in the entire state, and we need to make sure that the most vulnerable people in our community are protected,” Villanueva said. “We all must take precautions to protect them, so please come by to get a mask if you do not have one.”

Event partners include Enlace Chicago, Rincón Family Services and Telpochcalli Community Education Project.

WHO:  State Senator Celina Villanueva, Alderperson Michael Rodriguez, U.S. Representative Jesús “Chuy” García, Commissioner Alma E. Anaya, State Representatives Lisa Hernandez, Edgar Gonzalez and Aarón Ortíz

WHAT: Little Village Mask Distribution

WHEN: Wednesday, May 13, 2020 10 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

WHERE: Second Federal Bank (West Parking Lot), 2520 S. Pulaski Rd., Chicago, IL 60623

CHICAGO – With her home ZIP code experiencing the highest COVID-19 infection rate in the state, State Senator Celina Villanueva (D-Chicago) released the following statement:

“Staying at home is a privilege that working people literally cannot afford. With an overwhelmed unemployment system, no adequate safety net and lack of personal protective equipment, people in my community are forced to choose between getting infected at work or losing everything.

“As we continue adapting to this pandemic, we must address the amplified economic and health disparities in our communities. It is black and brown ZIP codes that have the highest rates of infection, so addressing that starts with additional testing sites in our neighborhoods.

“I am grateful that the governor announced he is partnering with community health centers to make testing more available, as well as covered by emergency Medicaid regardless of status. I urge the governor to continue these partnerships and to reach out to local businesses to ensure that they are strictly following health and safety guidelines for the thousands of service industry and other essential workers who are putting their lives on the line.”

CHICAGO – With the coronavirus pandemic forcing thousands of businesses to close, State Senator Celina Villanueva (D-Chicago) urges eligible Chicago business owners to apply for the new Microbusiness Recovery Grant Program.

“Many of the assistance programs available are not accessible to the most vulnerable in our community,” Villanueva said. “Working people deserve relief regardless of status. This program is open to those who are too often left behind.”

The Microbusiness Recovery Grant Program will award 1,000 businesses with four or fewer employees a one-time grant of $5,000. The grant money, funded entirely by private donations, must be used as working capital for expenses such as payroll, rent, insurance or taxes. Applications are available in English and Spanish on the City of Chicago’s website and are due by 5 p.m. on Monday, May 4, 2020.

Eligibility requirements for the program include:

• Four or fewer employees,
• Less than $250,000 annual revenue,
• Located in the city of Chicago,
• In business for at least one year,
• 25% decrease in revenue due to COVID-19, and
• Located in a low- or moderate-income Community Area.

Applicants must provide a valid ID and completed W9 form. CityKey is an accepted form of ID. Recipients will be chosen by a lottery on May 11 and issued their grant within two business days.

New COVID-19 testing center open in Little Village

CHICAGO – State Senator Celina Villanueva (D-Chicago) announced today that a new COVID-19 testing facility is open in the Little Village neighborhood of Chicago.

“The systemic health disparities my community faces have existed since well before this pandemic, but are now on display for everyone to see,” Villanueva said. “I am grateful that the state is increasing testing availability in the communities hardest hit by coronavirus. Everyone deserves access to quality health care, regardless of their ZIP code.”

The new testing facility will be administered by Howard Brown Health and located at Project Vida, 2659 S. Kedvale Ave., Chicago. They can be reached by phone at 773-388-1600. Services will be available to all residents regardless of immigration status.

Other COVID-19 testing sites in and near the 11^th Senate District include:

• AMITA Health Adventist Medical Center, 5101 Willow Springs Rd., La Grange (708-245-9000)
• Esperanza Health Center, 2001 S. California Ave., #100, Chicago (773-584-6200)
• Esperanza Health Center, 4700 S. California Ave., Chicago (773-584-6200)
• Lawndale Christian Health Center, 3860 Ogden Ave., Chicago (872-588-3000)
• Mile Square Health Center, 1220 S. Wood St., Chicago (312-996-2000)
• Rush Oak Park Hospital, 520 S. Maple Ave., Chicago (708-383-9300)
• Saint Anthony Hospital, 2875 W. 19^th St., Chicago (773-484-1000)
• Sinai Health System, 1500 S. Fairfield Ave., Chicago (773-542-2000)

Many testing sites require you to make an appointment with your primary health provider before getting tested for COVID-19. Please call in advance to see what steps are necessary before getting tested.

CHICAGO – With the Lyons Elementary School District 103 board scheduled to meet tonight to consider cutting custodial staff, State Senator Celina Villanueva (D-Chicago) released the following statement:

“The school board needs to rethink reducing custodial staff during a global pandemic. Custodians have been essential to our public health even before this pandemic so firing them now will put students at higher risk.

“I am calling on our community to come together for these hard-working individuals whose labor is underappreciated and undervalued. It is an insult that their livelihoods are on the line at the same time that administrative positions with six-figure salaries are being considered.”

People interested in making a public comment must email their public comment to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by April 22, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. Comments are limited to 200 words and will be read during the meeting.

CHICAGO – After the Hilco Redevelopment Partners’ demolition of the Crawford Coal plant sent a dust cloud racing through the Little Village neighborhood, State Senator Celina Villanueva (D-Chicago) released the following statement:

“Hilco’s decision to demolish the Crawford plant on a holiday weekend during a pandemic that has caused respiratory issues for thousands of people was reckless and inexcusable. The lack of consideration for our community is appalling and our families and essential workers could suffer for it.

CHICAGO – With working families facing food insecurity during the coronavirus pandemic, State Senator Celina Villanueva (D-Chicago) is promoting the state’s expansion of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.

“Thousands of people have been thrown out of work and need to feed their families,” Villanueva said. “We can’t allow the most vulnerable among us to go hungry during this crisis.”

The Illinois Department of Human Services announced that all SNAP recipients and new applicants will receive the maximum benefit beginning this week, impacting over 450,000 households. The increased benefits will be loaded onto Link cards automatically through May, so there is no need to call or re-apply.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Celina Villanueva (D-Chicago) released the following statement on Illinois’ policy to no longer refer undocumented immigrants who have served their sentences within the Illinois prison system to federal immigration custody:

“I am the daughter of immigrants and hearing my colleagues and members of law enforcement repeat the President’s racist rhetoric breaks my heart.

“Our criminal justice system does not exist to serve ICE. Law enforcement should not aid and abet the deportation machine. Communities of color, specifically immigrant communities, need to know that they can trust law enforcement regardless of citizenship status.