General Updates from Senator Mike Simmons
Dear Neighbor,
I am excited to roll out a new initiative from our 7th District office for young people across our district. Speeches with Mike Simmons is a new program for residents of our district that I will be bringing to high schools across the 7th District to give young people the chance to work with me and my office directly on speechwriting and public speaking about topics students are passionate about.
When I was in high school at St. Ignatius, I started out running Track and Field and had to stop after injuries in my sophomore year. On a whim, I tried out speech and debate my Junior year. I ended up a national finalist in my Junior year and the National Championship winner for “Most Outstanding Representative” in my Senior year in the National Student Congress. My staff and I were musing on this recently and decided we want to give high school students in our district opportunities to express themselves through spoken word and debate.
We will debut Speeches with Mike Simmons this Fall at Senn High School - more details below! If you are a high school educator or student interested in participating, please reach out to Gabby Tewodros at
With Gratitude,
Mike Simmons
State Senator | 7th District
Legislative Updates
Senator Simmons Launches Speeches with Simmons
I am starting a new initiative to give scholars and students the opportunity to get more involved in civics and democracy: Speeches with Mike Simmons! Keep an eye out for future collaborations with 7th District high schools. If you are a high school student or teacher interested in hosting an event together, reach out to my office with the link here or email
Senator Simmons Mobile Town Hall Thursday, September 17th, 5:00 - 6:30 p.m.
I invite you to join me next Thursday, September 17th, 2026 for a Mobile Town Hall at ENJOY Andersonville (5307 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60640)! The event will include a summer 2026 Recap, a preview of the fall veto legislative session (Nov 17-19 and Dec 1-3), small business discussion, and Q&A Opportunity with Senator Simmons. RSVP with the link here.
Senator Simmons Secures $300k for Chicago Bike Grid
The Chicagoland area has made some solid strides recently in installing safer infrastructure for cyclists, but many communities remain disconnected with only patch trails and protected lanes that don’t lead very far. Our city and surrounding suburbs would benefit immensely from more centralized planning to develop a citywide and thoroughly connected bike grid that would operate more like bike highways often seen in global cities such as Copenhagen and Montréal, both places where I personally have done extensive cycling and commuting. Ultimately this is exactly the kind of citywide connected bike infrastructure that will remove stress from cyclists and motorists, and cut down on avoidable and tragic cyclist fatalities. We can do a lot better. I have had it with seeing ghost white memorial bikes for another person on a bike who was killed on a street where more protective infrastructure or a low stress and accessible grid could have been constructed.
That’s why I have secured $300,000 to develop a centralized plan for the development of a Chicagoland Bike Grid to include all of Chicago and each peripheral suburb surrounding our city! I am in talks with the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) and Bike Grid Now to ensure these funds are effectively used to create a plan for a citywide bike grid. With $300k established for bike grid planning, we are on the path to safe bikeways from the south suburbs to Evanston and all across Chicagoland. I will keep you posted as this work develops and evolves. Watch a video of my announcement linked here.
Senator Simmons Hosts ‘Tour De Border’ Event with Bike Grid Now and Evanston Transit Alliance
Caption: Nik Hunder (Bike Grid Now) kicks off the ride from Triangle Park in Rogers Park.
In partnership with Bike Grid Now and Evanston Transit Alliance, I hosted a cycling event to investigate the existing cycling connections between Evanston and Chicago. With around 20 cyclists in attendance, we had a productive ride examining the infrastructure needs to ensure safer cycling between Evanston and Chicago. We need much safer cycling paths between the two municipalities, and I am pushing for better infrastructure to be included in future street/bike grid planning.
Caption: Senator Simmons shares thoughts about cycling infrastructure at Howard and Seeley.
Senator Simmons in the News
- Cyclists want better Evanston to Chicago connections, Evanston Now
Trending Topics
Every week, my office receives phone calls, emails, and letters from constituents communicating what issues matter most to them, their ideas, and legislative requests. Here are the top trending correspondence issues our office has received from 7th District constituents since the previous newsletter on August 25th!
- 26 support imposing a moratorium on data centers.
- 19 concerned about the use of artificial intelligence in schools.
- 10 support imposing taxes on the 1% to fully fund education, cut property taxes for homeowners, and more.
- 7 support the POWER Act, proposed data center regulation.
Please reach out to share your top priorities with me by email (
District News
Local Organizations Apply for Pre-Apprenticeship Funding, Open Until October 2nd
Caption: Participants in Illinois Works Pre-Apprenticeship Program.
The Illinois Works Pre-Apprenticeship Program launched in 2021 through the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity with the goal of increasing access to apprenticeship programs to a more diverse pool of candidates. These comprehensive pre-apprenticeship programs help participants gain admission to apprenticeship programs, which provide graduates a greater opportunity to start a long-term career in the trades. Since the program’s inception, Illinois Works has awarded over $70 million to community-based organizations serving over 7,000 Illinois residents.
Eligible applicants include nonprofit, community-based organizations, such as industry associations, chambers of commerce, local workforce areas, community colleges, technical schools and school districts. To view the Notice of Funding Opportunity and apply for the grant, please visit the DCEO website. Interested parties are encouraged to reach out to
Over $875,000 Secured in Library and Literacy Grants for 7th District Organizations
FY27 library and literacy grants have been announced, and it is great news for the 7th district! A total of $879,621 is being issued out to eight community organizations who serve the public through adult volunteer and family literacy programs. Congratulations to this year’s recipients that match FY26 funding!
- Centro Romero, Adult Volunteer Literacy: $105,000
- Centro Romero, Family Literacy: $52,500
- Chinese Mutual Aid Association, Adult Volunteer Literacy: $83,200
- Chinese Mutual Aid Association, Family Literacy: $52,500
- Chinese Mutual Aid Association, Workplace Skills Enhancement: $21,000
- Ethiopian Community Association of Chicago, Adult Volunteer Literacy: $72,800
- Heartland Human Care Services, Adult Volunteer Literacy: $105,000
- Heartland Human Care Services, Family Literacy: $50,000
- Heartland Human Care Services, Family Literacy: $50,000
- Jane Addams Resource Corporation, Adult Volunteer Literacy: $50,000
- Lester and Rosalie Anixter Center, Adult Volunteer Literacy: $72,236
- South-East Asia Center, Adult Volunteer Literacy: $80,749
- Vietnamese Association, Adult Volunteer Literacy: $84,636
HB1085 Implementation Panel | Friday, September 25th from 11:00 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.
Attention mental healthcare providers! Hear from Rep. Lindsey LaPointe, Sen. Karina Villa, and clinical and policy experts on what to expect when HB1085 goes into effect in 2027. HB1085 requires most private insurance plans in Illinois to increase reimbursement for behavioral health care beginning in January, among other reforms.
There are two learning sessions to help providers learn about implementation. The information shared will be the same in both sessions. You will learn about implementation, what to expect, and what to do if a plan does not comply with the new law. The learning sessions will be recorded for those who are unable to join.
Register for Friday, September 25th, 11am - 12:15pm HERE
Register for Friday, October 2nd, 1pm - 2:15pm HERE
Speakers:
- Illinois State Rep. Lindsey LaPointe
- Illinois State Sen. Karina Villa
- Heather O’Donnell, Josselyn, Chief Public Policy Officer
- Charles Roozen, Compass Health Center, General Counsel
- Stacey Belmont, PhD, Belmont Depression and Anxiety Center, Clinical & Executive Director
- Maeve Raphelson, LCSW, The People's Lobby
Upcoming Community Events
47th Ward Paper Shredding Event | Saturday, September 19th from 9:00 - 11:00 a.m.
Alderman Martin is hosting a free paper shredding and electronic recycling event in the Jewel Osco parking lot (4250 N. Lincoln) on Saturday, September 19th from 9:00 - 11:00 a.m.
In partnership with Midway Recycling, they will offer both Document Destruction and Electronics Recycling services. For paper, they ask that you remove staples beforehand and bring no more than 2 boxes per household. All types of electronics will be accepted. Learn more on the 47th Ward website.
49th Ward Pottawatomie Park Windy City SportsFest | Saturday, September 19th from 12:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Thank you for taking the time to read my newsletter! If you ever want to reach out to our office, please call us at 773-769-1717, and we will respond promptly. We can also be reached at
