This page is devoted to recent events I have sponsored in the 2nd Ward. It is not a comprehensive list, but highlights some of our bigger projects.

This is a new section of our site and is not yet complete.

Printers’ Row Park Dedication

This event was a huge success and our best park dedication yet! It was a true community gathering with over 150 local residents coming out to partake in the festivities.  Printers’ Row resident Jack Scott opened the event with a lute serenade, Columbia College Jazz Band jammed after the ribbon cutting, and the young Chicago Multicultural Dancers put on a great show! The South Loop Neighbors and Printers’ Row residents also wrote a poem to commemorate the event, which can be found below.  Local businesses Standing Room Only, Trattoria Caterina, Hackney’s, Bar Louie, Pockets, and Starbucks provided coffee and food for everyone who came out.  Alderman Fioretti would like to thank everyone who helped put the event together and all the sponsors for making it a wonderful neighborhood experience.  Special thanks to the South Loop Neighbors and Roy Svenson of Chicago Community Bank!

Printers’ Row Park Poem:

Shared space in the city is rare

We all treasure light and fresh air

This makes parks so precious

To praise this one let us

Reflect on this site so fair

Years ago seedy buildings were here

In our memory their use was not clear

Pawn shop or bordello?

Books say perhaps so

At their demise we did not shed a tear.

In ‘98 a building was proposed for the site

For many the idea was a fright

High rise or no?

Which way to go?

HPRN seemed to be born overnight.

From there the community grew

Old timers have been joined by new

To have fun in these spaces

Like BBQs and pet graces

Under skies that are cloudy or blue

Two short streets, unnamed, are no more

To make room for what’s yet in store

More dog washes we hope

Perhaps some jumped rope

New fun to add to Printers’ Row lore

Construction- and this poem- are now done

It’s time to visit and have some fun

So let’s raise a cheer

To this space we hold dear

And look forward to memories to come.

2nd Ward and CEDA Energy and Healthcare Empowerment Fair

Alderman Fioretti provided Home Energy Assistance Programs and Healthcare information, donated by CEDA (Community and Economic Development Association of Cook County). The event took place at Revival Fellowship Church at 2801 W. Washington Street on Saturday October 3rd, 2009. Over 100 2nd Ward residents came out for information about how to make their residences more energy efficient, weatherization kits, free check-ups and guides on how to navigate the healthcare systems. Home Depot weatherization vouchers will be available at our 2nd Ward public service office at the end of October 2009 on a first-come-first-serve basis.

The Battle of Fort Dearborn Park Dedication

On August 15 Alderman Bob Fioretti and the Chicago Park District dedicated a new park, located at 18th Street and Calument, as the Battle of Fort Dearborn Park. The park stands at the site of the battle during the War of 1812, when retreating soldiers and settlers from Fort Dearborn were ambushed by Native Americans.

Alderman Fioretti organized a number of groups to commemorate this event by erecting a historic marker, as shown in the pictures. This marker was sponsored by the American Indian Center in Chicago, the Glessner House Museum, the U.S. Daughters of 1812, and the Prairie District Neighborhood Alliance. The event began with Native Americans blessing the site in the name of all those who died there, and a color guard of 1812 militiamen reenactors and the Illinois National Guard, who trace their roots from the milita in Fort Dearborn. The Native Americans danced and drummed to honor the history of this area.

This was a solemn occasion and a learning experience. Books about Fort Dearborn were available for sale, and over 300 people attended this event. Alderman Fioretti noted that this was a time for us to come together, respect the past, and work together to learn from our shared history.

The Alderman would like to thank all those who worked to make this event a great success.

The 2nd Ward and Rush Hospital Back to School and Health Fair

Alderman Fioretti and Rush Hospital teamed up on the West Side of Chicago to prepare students to return to school. 250 Rush Caring volunteers did a great job helping these students become medically compliant at our second annual Back to School and Health Fair, which took place August 22, 2009 at Fosco Park Community Center. Rush brought together students from Rush University to help the community, while providing students with opportunities to develop their clinical, interpersonal and leadership skills. Volunteers at the fair included students, faculty and aldermanic staff and volunteers.

At the fair more than 400 children were triaged, 300 received physical exams and 230 were screened for immunizations. The Chicago Department of Public Health also administered 93 vaccines. Every child who received services was given a backpack filled with school supplies donated to our office by the Rush Community, Walgreens, Harmony Health, CashNet USA.