SPRINGFIELD – Following Gov. JB Pritzker’s budget address, State Senator Cristina H. Pacione-Zayas is excited about the proposed investments in early childhood, housing and violence prevention.

“I am thrilled that the governor and I share the same priority—doubling down on the promise of Illinois as the best state to raise young children,” said Pacione-Zayas (D-Chicago). “The proposed investments in early childhood are the first steps to accomplish this. I look forward to working with colleagues in both chambers to deliver the resources and tools for our young children and families to thrive.”

The governor established early childhood as a priority for the FY 2024 budget, allocating $250 million to the Smart Start Illinois early childhood initiative. The multi-year plan provides a comprehensive approach to investments in preparing children to be lifelong learners, and invests in ISBE Early Childhood Block Grants, Childcare Workforce Compensation Contracts, Early Intervention, DHS Home Visiting Program, Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity Scholarships, and more. 

As the chair of the newly formed Early Childhood Committee in the Senate, Pacione-Zayas is delighted that the issue is recognized as a statewide priority.

“When people think of early childhood, of course they consider supports for child care and the school system, but often don’t consider that early childhood development is about early experiences and therefore is affected by the family’s wages, living conditions, and access to high quality health care among many other factors,” Pacione-Zayas said. “The budget proposal is an amazing start to address these issues, and I look forward to collaborating with the governor and my colleagues to invest in our children.”

The budget also allocates $350 million in affordable housing, which supports stabilizing our communities by combating housing insecurity, folks facing difficulties finding work when experiencing homelessness, and battle gentrification in Chicago neighborhoods. It also invests in violence prevention programs, such as $635 million in the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority and $138 million in the Department of Juvenile Justice.

“The rising cost of living not only disrupts the lives of folks who are priced out of their homes, it also disrupts and separates communities that have called neighborhoods home for generations,” Pacione-Zayas said. “Investing in affordable housing helps our fight against gentrification, and allow families to stay in the communities they have helped to shape.” 

Senator Pacione-Zayas looks forward to advocating for early childhood, housing, and violence prevention in the upcoming budget negotiations.

Estimado amigo,

Espero que usted y sus seres queridos se encuentren bien. Para comenzar el mes, quiero destacar los próximos eventos en el distrito, incluyendo el resumen de la junta comunitaria legislativa mensual, un evento móvil de la Secretaría del Estado, y más. Lea para saber los detalles sobre cómo puede participar, y cómo puede acceder a recursos estatales y federales.

Como siempre, siéntase en libertad de comunicarse con mi oficina si necesita asistencia llame al 773-278-2020, envíe un mensaje de texto al 773-207-7838, o mande una nota a través de www.senatorpacionezayas.com/contact-us.

Sinceramente,

Senadora Estatal Cristina Pacione-Zayas | Distrito 20

¡Regístrese en mis Juntas Comunitarias Mensuales!

Para que mis representados estén informados sobre qué políticas públicas se están discutiendo en Springfield, estaré haciendo una junta comunitaria virtual al mes durante la sesión legislativa. En mi tiempo como servidora pública, he utilizado un modelo de cogobierno bajo el que no solo represento mis intereses en Springfield, sino también las ideas y los problemas que son importantes para mis representados. Estas juntas comunitarias cultivarán una línea directa de comunicación entre las personas en la comunidad y esta servidora durante el periodo en que trabajo en legislación—garantizando que sus voces sean escuchadas antes de que tome acción legislativa.

En cada junta comunitaria ofrezco una lista de las legislaciones presentes y futuras en que trabajo. Esto permite que mis representados aporten sus puntos de vista en cualquier asunto de políticas públicas en progreso y que expresen sus preocupaciones o su apoyo en los temas en que trabajo -para ampliar la agenda popular del distrito 20 del Senado.

Acabamos de tener la primera junta el 31 de enero, y programamos las siguientes fechas: 1 de marzo, 11 de abril, y 31 de mayo. Todas las juntas comunitarias se llevarán a cabo de 6-7 p.m., y habrá traducción simultánea al español durante el evento.

Para registrarse en las juntas comunitarias vaya al siguiente enlace o vía Facebook Live en https://www.facebook.com/SenatorPacioneZayas/. Si se perdió la primera sesión, puede verla en Facebook en este enlace: https://www.facebook.com/SenatorPacioneZayas/videos/530272708920399

Evento de la Secretaría de Estado en el Parque

Cuando la vida es ocupada puede ser difícil tener el tiempo para ir a la DMV para renovar su licencia de conducir, solicitar una identificación estatal, o actualizar el registro de su vehículo. Por ello, estoy ofreciendo un evento con el Representante Will Guzzardi y el secretario de Estado, Alexi Giannoulias, para que estos servicios sean más accesibles a nuestra comunidad.

Por favor considere acompañarnos el sábado 25 de febrero de 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. en el Parque Kilbourn, en el 3501 N Kilbourn Ave. Solicite una cita en bit.ly/sosinthepark. ¡Espero verlos allá!

Oportunidades Laborales en el Distrito 20 y en el área

Revise mi webpage con la lista de oportunidades de trabajo en Chicago y en el Distrito 20. Ahí, encontrará enlaces para empleos con el Estado de Illinois, las Escuelas Públicas de Chicago, organizaciones locales y más.

Asistencia para Compradores de Vivienda está disponible

Comprar una casa en el mercado que tenemos puede resultar intimidante y estresante. Pero, gracias al Programa de Asistencia Doors Homebuyer, usted puede ser elegible a recibir $6,000 en asistencia para el enganche o los gastos de cierre.

El programa está diseñado para ayudar a personas de bajos recursos y grupos minoritarios que históricamente enfrentan barreras en el camino para ser dueños de casa. Lea más información en www.ihdamortgage.org.

Asistencia para Pagar los Servicios de Energía está disponible a través de LIHEAP

¿Su familia califica para recibir asistencia con las cuentas de energía? Cualquier familia con ingresos de hasta dos veces el nivel federal de pobreza puede ser elegible al Programa de Asistencia al Pago de Cuentas de Energía para Hogares de Bajos Ingresos. Entérese si usted es elegible y solicite hasta el 31 de mayo en helpillinoisfamilies.com, o llamando al 1-833-711-0374.

Incluya sus activos “no reclamados” en su declaración de impuestos

La temporada de impuestos es un buen momento para verificar que usted está incluyendo sus activos. Los bancos, las uniones de crédito y las compañías de inversiones proveerán información para que prepare su declaración de impuestos en los meses de enero, febrero y marzo.

Al revisar esta lista cada año se puede asegurar que sus cuentas no son consideradas como “no reclamadas” y, como resultado, caer en manos del estado

En Illinois, una propiedad es considerada “no reclamada” si un propietario no la ha tocado en tres años. Por ejemplo, una cuenta de ahorros sin actividad por tres años podría ser considerada como “no reclamada”.

El Tesorero de Illinois, Mike Frerichs tiene una base de datos de activos “no reclamados” – vea su algunos de sus activos se encuentran ahí “no reclamados” aquí.

¡Hay becas disponibles en DCFS!

Para personas que reciben beneficios ahora y en el pasado, solicite al Programa de Becas DFCF 2023. 53 jóvenes reciben colegiatura y pagos académicos gratuitos en colegios y universidades comunitarios de Illinois, una beca mensual y una tarjeta médica. Solicite hasta el 3/31. Vea más información en: https://www2.illinois.gov/dcfs

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Cristina H. Pacione-Zayas is thrilled to announce she will serve as chair of the newly formed Senate Early Childhood Committee in the 103rd General Assembly.

“As a lifetime advocate for early childhood education and development, I am excited to lead this new committee and develop policies that support the young children and families of our state,” said Pacione-Zayas (D-Chicago). “I am hopeful that with the creation of this committee, we will dive deeper into issues that impact early experiences and directly address them through policies that ensure young children throughout the state are supported during every stage of their development.”   

Pacione-Zayas has been a leader in early childhood policy during her tenure as State Senator. Her advocacy created the Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity (ECACE), which provides financial and wrap-around support for members of the incumbent early childhood workforce while earning degrees and credentials to improve the quality of early childhood services and programs. She also led the Too Young to Test Act, which dismantles harmful testing procedures for young students in the state. She established the floor for economic eligibility for the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) to ensure that budgets are not balanced on the backs of families with limited economic resources. She championed legislation and secured a budget appropriation to fund $50 seed deposits in Child Savings Accounts for all newborns in Illinois and extended access to Early Intervention services for infants and toddlers who present with developmental delays. Lastly, she launched the first-ever Early Childhood Resource Fair with Senator Omar Aquino (D-Chicago) to help direct members of the community to resources that are available to them – setting their kids up for academic and personal success. She hopes to hold more early childhood resource fairs this spring in tandem with new legislation on these issues. 

The Senator’s strong background in early childhood care and education, predates her tenure in the Senate. Prior to joining in 2020, Pacione-Zayas was the Associate Vice President of Policy for Erikson Institute and established Erikson’s Early Childhood Leadership Academy and Community Data Lab—two statewide initiatives designed for Illinois leaders to foster deeper understanding of the importance of a child’s early years and how to apply child development science to policies that yield positive outcomes for children and families. She also served on the Illinois Early Learning Council, the Illinois State Team of the BUILD Initiative and the Title V Needs Assessment Advisory Committee for the state’s maternal and child health services, board of directors for the Illinois Network of Child Care and Resource Referral Agencies, and more. All of these roles addressed essential issues affecting early childhood care and education and combined with her experience in elementary and secondary education, her perspective has positioned her as a leader of early childhood care and education legislation. 

“I am proud that early childhood care and education is not only a priority for myself, but also for my colleagues in the General Assembly and the Governor, who recognized early childhood care and education as a focus for his new administration during his inaugural address,” said Pacione-Zayas. “The creation of this committee establishes early childhood development as a statewide priority, and I am honored to champion our youngest children through my leadership as Chair.” 

Committee schedules and live streamed proceedings are available at www.ilga.gov. 

SPRINGFIELD –To keep constituents informed of what policies are being discussed in Springfield, State Senator Cristina H. Pacione-Zayas is holding four monthly town halls over the course of the spring legislative session.

“During my tenure as a public servant, I have utilized a shared governance model where I do not just represent my own interests in Springfield, but ideas and issues that are important to my constituents,” said Pacione-Zayas (D-Chicago). “These town halls will cultivate a direct line of communication between myself and folks in my community during times I am working on legislation—making sure their voices are heard before I take legislative action.”  

During each Town Hall meeting, the Senator will give her community a rundown of current and upcoming legislation. This will allow constituents to give feedback on any policy issues they would like to be introduced before the session ends, or voice their concerns or support of issues she is working on as a part of the broader people’s agenda for the 20th District.

The four meetings will be on January 31, March 1, April 11, and May 31^st. All town halls will last from 6-7 p.m. Spanish interpretation will be available throughout the event.

To pre-register for the first town hall on Jan. 31^st, go to http://www.bit.ly/CPZSESSION or watch via Facebook Live at https://www.facebook.com/SenatorPacioneZayas/.