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Community Corner

🌱 $60M To Fight Homelessness + Chef Jose Duran Returns To Kitchen

The quickest way to get caught up on the most important things happening today in Chicago.

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Hi! I'm back with your fresh edition of the Chicago Daily. In today's guide to what's happening locally:

  • 💰 Chicago will receive $60 million in federal funding to combat homelessness.
  • 🎶 A Chicago poet is the driving force behind a new Grammy category.
  • 💌 Laurie Children's Hospital is asking for Valentine's Day cards for patients.

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📰 Top 5 stories in Chicago:

1) Two men temporarily blocked one of three CTA buses carrying migrants and staff to the former Wadsworth Elementary School in Woodlawn. "City officials did not come to us to work something out earlier, and we're not working nothing out now," Woodlawn resident and aldermanic candidate Andre Smith said. About 100 migrants moved into the controversial shelter yesterday—the first of hundreds who will relocate over the coming weeks. (Block Club Chicago)

2) The city will receive $60 million in federal funding from the Department of Housing and Urban Development to help fight homelessness. Chicago Continuum of Care, a collective comprised of more than 100 organizations and individuals working to prevent and end homelessness in Chicago, will be in charge of directing the funds, which will go toward expanding services. Chicago is one of 46 communities across the U.S. receiving grant money. (Chicago Tribune)

3) Laurie Children's Hospital is accepting Valentine's Day cards for patients. The "Handfuls of Love" campaign kicked off Wednesday, with a goal of delivering 10,000 cards to patients on Valentine's Day. Anyone can make a card for free by visiting luriechildrens.org/valentine. (CBS Chicago)

4) The Recording Academy will award on Sunday the first-ever Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Poetry Album, and Chicago poet J. Ivy is the driving force behind the new category. "It's important because poetry is, in fact, a big part of music," Ivy said. Ivy is also nominated for a Grammy for his fourth album, "The Poet Who Sat By The Door," which features spoken word and musical contributions from John Legend and others. (Chicago Sun-Times)

5) Wicker Park chef Jose Duran is back in the kitchen. The 28-year-old was brutally attacked Nov. 29 while waiting at a CTA Blue Line stop after leaving work. After almost losing his life, Duran said being able to once again prepare creative and culturally diverse cuisine at Schwa brings him lots of joy. (WGN 9)

📌 Today in Chicago:

  • Yoga for Adults at West Lawn Branch Library (9:30 AM)
  • AARP Foundation Free Tax Preparation at McKinley Park Branch Library (10:00 AM)
  • Chicago Bulls vs. Charlotte Hornets at United Center (7:00 PM)
  • Greensky Bluegrass at The Vic Theatre (7:30 PM)
  • Marques Carroll Quintet at Winter's Jazz Club (7:30 PM)
  • Rod Tuffcurls & The Bench Press: Tuff Fest 2023 with Hank Ruff at Joe's Bar on Weed St. (7:30 PM)
  • Back 2 Mac: A Tribute to Fleetwood Mac at City Winery (8:00 PM)
  • Music Video Mash Up at Late Bar (8:00 PM)
  • Spafford at Park West (8:00 PM)
  • Khaliyah X at Reggies (8:00 PM)
  • The Hemispheres at Untitled (8:00 PM)
  • Strangelove: The Depeche Mode Experience at Impact Fuel Room (9:00 PM)
  • Things That Go Bump In The Night with Derrick Carter at Smartbar (10:00 PM)
  • The Serfs, Choke Chain, IG Metall at Empty Bottle (10:00 PM)
  • Golf Clap at Sound-Bar (10:00 PM)

📱 Social chatter:

  • NKOTB Blockcon: "Attention New Kids on the Block fans! The boyband has announced their first-ever 'Blockhead' fan convention is being held in the Chicago area." (WGN 9)
  • CTA-themed V-Day gift: "Gift your valentine (or yourself) their very own station sign! Head to https://ctagifts.com/pages/choose-your-station… to order a sign from your favorite CTA station." (CTA via Twitter)
  • Vintage Chicago: "December 1942. 40th Street Shops (Chicago & North Western locomotive shops)" (Growing up in Chicago via Facebook)
  • Tickets to see Beyonce in Chicago: "🐝ATTN BEYHIVE🐝 Here's how to get tickets to see Queen B:" (Block Club Chicago via Facebook)
  • Streets Calling bike group: "Streets Calling, a Black-led bike group, hopes to get even bigger in 2023." (Streetsblog Chicago)

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That's it for today!

— Nicole Cvetnic

About me: I'm a Midwesterner and very happy to call Chicagoland home. I love the outdoors—especially hiking—performing arts, photography, good food, travel and gardening. You can find me reading to my toddler, watching tv with my husband or cuddling with our rescue dog.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Chicago Daily? Contact me at chicago_il@patch.com

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