Community Updates, Important Resources, & Coffee This Saturday
- Janet
- 7 days ago
- 4 min read
In This Issue:
Thank You, Summer Interns!
Out and About in the District
A Power & Electricity Message for Medically Vulnerable Residents
Golden Days Programming at Naper Settlement
This Saturday: Coffee & Conversation
Dear Friends,
As summer begins to wind down, I want to take a moment to share some of our district office’s happenings. Our summer interns, for example, have been wrapping up their legislative research projects. I’m excited for all the progress they’ve made on bills we will introduce in the coming months, which will cover issues ranging from health insurance coverage and consumer protection to student athletics and accessibility.
I've also had the opportunity to meet with residents and community organizations throughout the district, including at town halls, community events, and a recent legislative recap with our local business community. These conversations are an important part of my job, and they help shape the work I do in Springfield.
In this newsletter, you'll also find an important reminder for medically vulnerable residents about preparing for potential power outages, information about a wonderful new program at Naper Settlement, and an invitation to join me for Coffee & Conversation this Saturday.
As always, please don't hesitate to reach out to my office if we can be of assistance.
Sincerely,
Janet
Thank You, Summer Interns!
As summer comes to a close, I want to extend a huge thank you to this year's summer intern team. They have brought energy and fresh perspectives to our office, while helping with everything from constituent services and community events to legislative research.
Each year, our interns have the opportunity to explore issues that matter to our community and think creatively about how public policy can help solve real-world problems. Some of the issues they have been researching and developing include:
Insurance coverage for scalp cooling, which can help reduce hair loss for patients undergoing certain types of cancer treatment.
Education and awareness around the Blue Envelope Program, which is designed to help improve interactions between law enforcement and individuals with communication challenges or disabilities.
IHSA student-athlete transfer eligibility, and the equitable application of rules to families of all economic backgrounds.
“Ghost job” advertisements, or job postings for positions that employers may not actually be actively seeking to fill.
Workplace Rights Education, to better prepare students through comprehensive, practical education about workplace rights and responsibilities, including recognizing and reporting discrimination and harassment.
Some of these ideas may eventually become legislation, while others may lead to conversations with stakeholders or additional research. The work our interns perform each summer is an important part of the legislative process, as we listen, learn, and ask questions to identify practical solutions. Thank you again to our interns for all of their hard work this summer. I can't wait to see what comes next for each of them!
We begin taking applications for our summer internship class at the beginning of each year, so look out for our January and February newsletters if you’re interested in learning more and applying.
Out and About in the District
The past several weeks have been filled with opportunities to connect with community members and local organizations. I recently held town halls with residents at Tabor Hills and Monarch Landing, where we had thoughtful conversations about issues affecting our district and what’s happening in Springfield.
I also enjoyed joining the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce for its End-of-Session Recap, where I had the opportunity to discuss the spring 2026 legislative session and answer questions from members of our local business community. And, as always, National Night Out was a wonderful opportunity to visit neighborhoods and thank the first responders and community organizations who work every day to help keep our communities safe and strong.
These events are an important reminder that some of the best conversations I have happen outside the Capitol. If you are part of a community group, organization, business, homeowners association, or other gathering that would like to have me come speak or participate, please don't hesitate to contact my office. I would love to hear from you!
A Power & Electricity Message for Medically Vulnerable Residents
I meet and work regularly with both ComEd and the City of Naperville, and a recent meeting underscored an important practice for our medically vulnerable residents: If you or someone in your household is medically vulnerable, make sure your electricity provider is aware of this.
If this applies to your household and your service provider is ComEd, you can call them directly at 1-800-EDISON-1 (1-800-334-7661) to have your account notated appropriately. For Naperville’s Electric Utility customers, this service is available through the City’s Caring Hands Program. Doing this can help utilities and first responders identify medically vulnerable customers and prioritize their needs during an outage.
With the increasing frequency and severity of recent storms, power outages can be more than just an inconvenience for residents who rely on electricity for medical equipment or other health-related needs. Of course, being designated as medically vulnerable does not guarantee that power can be restored immediately during a widespread outage, but making sure your provider has accurate information about your household can be an important part of preparing for severe weather.
If you have questions or need help navigating this process, please feel free to contact my office.
Golden Days Programming at Naper Settlement
I am excited to share an opportunity for adults 55+ in our community: Through funding that I secured from the State of Illinois, Naper Settlement is offering Golden Days programming designed to provide engaging opportunities for residents to learn and connect. Some of the upcoming events include a Pride and Prejudice Walking Play and a Lunch and Learn on Naperville in the Cold War.
I hope you will take advantage of this great offering and share the information with friends, family members, and neighbors who may be interested. We are fortunate to have incredible cultural and educational institutions right here in our community, and I am thrilled that this state funding is helping make Naper Settlement's programming accessible to even more people.
This Saturday: Coffee and Conversation
I hope you'll join me this Saturday for my next Coffee & Conversation!
These informal gatherings are an opportunity to stop by, grab a cup of coffee, and talk about whatever is on your mind, whether it's a concern about state government, an issue affecting your neighborhood, or simply something you think I should know about. I hope to see you there!
What: August Coffee & Conversation
Where: 41st District Office, 475 River Bend Rd., Suite 500, Naperville
When: Saturday, August 29, 10:00 am -11:00 am
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