Community Connections! Spring 2024

• About Us: What Is Community Connections?
• Community Events
• Heritage Fest: Save the Date & Share Your Culture
• Help Us Plan for the Future!
• Speaker Spotlight
• Resources Available to You and Your Family
• Continued Learning Opportunities for Adults
• The Work We Are Doing

The Arlington Heights Community Connections Group is here to serve you! Members from local community organizations that serve residents of Arlington Heights have joined together, to offer you a one-stop informational guide to free community events, speakers, cultural opportunities, free resources, and more!

This newsletter features news from participating organizations including Arlington Heights School District 25, Arlington Heights Memorial Library, Arlington Heights Park District, Community Consolidated School District 59, Community Consolidated School District 21, Harper College, High School District 214, Prospect Heights School District 23, and the Village of Arlington Heights.

The Community Connections E-News will be sent quarterly, on a seasonal basis.

Arlington Heights offers a wide variety of fun and family friendly community events that are available to all community members! These events are FREE AND OPEN TO ALL! We hope to see you there!

• Arlington Heights Farmers Market: Saturdays, through Oct. 12th, 8 a.m. - 12 p.m. at Fremont and Vail Street
  Enjoy crafts, fresh produce to shop, entertainment, music and more! Learn More
  
  
• Community Bike Ride: Saturday, May 18, 10 a.m., at North School Park
  Bring your bike and helmet for a fun bike ride through Arlington Heights, beginning and ending on Eastman Street, at North School Park! Short and long route available and registration is required. Learn More

• Swing Into Spring: Saturday, May 18, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m., North School Park
  Enjoy fun games, rides, music, spring crafts, the Bookmobile, bubbles, and food for purchase! Learn More
  
  
• Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony: Monday, May 27, 9 a.m. and Ceremony at 11 a.m.
  The Village is celebrating its 105th Memorial Day Parade. Please note that sirens are not used during this event, as it is in remembrance of those who lost their lives. The parade departs Village Hall at 9 a.m. and the ceremony is at 11 a.m. Learn More
  
  
• Summer Reading Program with the Arlington Heights Memorial Library, begins June 1
  Sign up for the 2024 Summer Reading Program and win prizes along the way! Learn More
  
  
• Sounds of Summer Concerts in Harmony Park: Thursdays, June 6 - August 29, 7-8:30 p.m.
  Enjoy a night of music with a diverse lineup of music genres, in Harmony Park in downtown Arlington Heights. Chairs can be set up after 2 p.m. Learn More

• Picnic in the Park: Friday, June 7, 5:30-8 p.m., at North School Park
  Celebrate the end of the school and start summer with live music, bounce houses, mini-golf, balloon and bubble artists, food trucks and more. Learn More

• Juneteenth Concert: Wednesday, June 19, 7 p.m., at North School Park
  Join the Arlington Heights Park District for a vibrant celebration of Juneteenth, a day commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African Americans in the United States, with a special performance by The Grady Experience. Learn More

• Community Job Fair: Thursday, June 20, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m., School District 21, 959 W. Dundee Road in Wheeling
  Residents are invited to attend this job fair to learn about job opportunities and connect with local businesses. See Flyer


• Frontier Days and Fourth of July Parade: July 3 - 7, Recreation Park
  Celebrate the 4th of July with music, entertainment, and the 47th Annual July 4th Parade! Learn More
  
  
• Unplug Illinois Concert: Tuesday, July 16, 10 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.
  It's time to unplug and enjoy some outdoor fun! You're invited to "unplug" with cool crafts and the Arlington Heights Park District's Kids Concert Series featuring Ben Tatar and the Tatar Tots. Learn More
  

Save the Date: August 10th

Celebrate Cultural Diversity at Heritage Fest on Saturday, August 10th, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m., at the Arlington Heights Historical Museum! Heritage Fest is a free, family-friendly event with performances, food for purchase and the opportunity to meet with local, cultural organizations.

Share Your Culture - Sign Up to Participate

Do you want to share your culture with our community in a fun and interactive way? Submit Your Booth Idea Here!

May is Mental Health Awareness Month and resources are available to assist you.

• If your or someone you know needs help now, dial 9-8-8 to be connected to 24/7 confidential support through the Illinois Department of Public Health
• Mental Health Awareness Month at the Arlington Heights Memorial Library
• Assistance from the Village of Arlington Heights' Health & Human Services Department

The Village of Arlington Heights issues proclamations recognizing a wide variety of observation months, weeks, and days that shine a spotlight on important issues, and help to celebrate the diversity of our community. May proclamations include:

• Asian American/Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Month
• Jewish Heritage Month
• Older Americans Month

District 214 Strategic Plan Survey

District 214 invites you to complete a short anonymous survey by June 3 to give feedback as part of their strategic planning process. The survey takes approximately 5 to 10 minutes to complete, and is available in multiple languages (English, Spanish, Russian, Ukrainian, Polish). To learn more about the strategic planning process, visit www.d214strategicplan.org

Village of Arlington Heights CIP Survey

The Arlington Heights Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) includes projects involving streets, storm water, sewers, water, traffic signals, tree lighting and Village buildings. What do you think should be a priority construction project in the CIP? Take the online survey through May 20th.

Pride and Parenting: Navigating Your Child’s Coming Out

Sunday, June 23, 4-5:30 p.m., Online/Virtual

Join District 214's Community Education for an inspiring journey of tension, love, acceptance, and unwavering devotion as a father shares the story of embracing his son who is part of the LGBTQIA+ community. Delve into the profound bond of parental love and endurance, epitomized by his steadfast vow: 'Nothing you could ever say or do could make me love you any less.' This virtual/online event will be interpreted in American Sign Language (ASL) and closed-captioning will be available. Register

There are many helpful services and resources that are available to Arlington Heights residents and community members who have students in Arlington Heights or who work in Arlington Heights.

• Free ESL Classes & Assessment at the Arlington Heights Memorial Library
• Community Services at the Arlington Heights Memorial Library
• Before and After School Care Financial Assistance Program
• Free Smoke Alarm and Installation Program from Arlington Fire Department

From cooking classes and language programs, to fitness classes and free events at the Senior Center, there are a wide variety of programs and classes available for adults of all ages.

• Arlington Heights Senior Center Programs
• Arlington Heights Memorial Library
• Continued Learning Programs from District 214
• Community Education Programs from Harper College
• CPR Classes from Arlington Heights Fire Department
• District 25's Parent Academy
• Free Adult Learning Classes from District 214
• Park District Adult Programs
• Register for Adult Learning Classes for District 214

It is important to prioritize Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging (DEIB) work as a community. This partnership is important to bring awareness to the work and attention the Village of Arlington Heights and the organizations it serves are doing around DEIB. Click on the below links to learn about some of the work happening in our Village.

• Arlington Heights School District 25
• Arlington Heights Memorial Library
• Arlington Heights Park District
• Community Consolidated School District 59
• Community Consolidated School District 21
• Harper College
• High School District 214
• Prospect Heights School District 23
• Village of Arlington Heights

We do our best to provide you with up to date information, however events are constantly being added and are subject to change. Please contact the host organization for any questions related to your event of interest. Visit www.vah.com/communityconnections for contact information.