Local mental health resource areas 

• Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) Mental Health Centers
  • Pilsen South Ashland Health Hub: 1713 S. Ashland Ave. (Walk-in services offered).
  • Englewood West 63rd Street Health Hub: 641 W. 63rd St..
• Other Chicago-based providers
  • Ada S. McKinley Community Services: Offers counseling and other services.
  • Anixter Center: Provides mental health support.
  • Community Counseling Centers of Chicago (C4): Locations include 2542 W. North Ave. and 4740 W. Clark Ave.
  • Metropolitan Family Services: A location in Chicago offers various services.
  • Pilsen Wellness Center: Provides mental health services

Food Pantries

• La Casa Norte’s Fresh Market: A pantry providing free fresh, nutritious food.
  • Address: 3533 W. North Ave., Chicago, IL 60647
• Pilsen Food Pantry: Serves the area southwest of the district, which is accessible to many West Town and Near North residents.
  • Address: 2124 S. Ashland Ave., Chicago, IL 60608
• Catholic Charities Chicago: Multiple locations in Chicago are accessible to Near North residents.
  • Address: 721 N. La Salle St., Chicago, IL 60610
• Chicago Lights Elam Davies Social Service Center: Operates a food pantry by appointment.
  • Address: 126 E. Chestnut St., Chicago, IL
• Share Food Share Love Food Pantry: Located in Brookfield, west of the district, and offers compassionate service.
  • Address: 9030 Brookfield Ave., Brookfield, IL 60513
• Salvation Army Corps Community Center Midwest: Several Salvation Army locations offer food assistance. This one is near the district.
  • Address: 20 S. Campbell Ave., Chicago, IL

Community Gardens

• Maxwell Street Community Garden: 1150 W 13th St, Chicago
• McKinley Park Community Garden: 2210 W Pershing Rd.
• Harrison Park Harvest Garden: 1824 S Wood St.
• Jefferson Playlot Park Community Garden: 1640 S Jefferson St.
• Community Roots Community Garden at Skinner Park: 1331 W Adams St.

Organizations that assist with immigration issues

• The Resurrection Project (TRP): Based in the district, TRP offers high-quality, low-cost immigration legal services aimed at keeping families together. It provides assistance with family-based petitions, residency applications, naturalization, and more.
  • Phone: 312-666-3062
• National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC): This Chicago-based organization provides free legal consultations and representation to low-income immigrants. NIJC works to defend the legal rights of immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers.
  • Phone: 312-660-1370
• Greater Chicago Legal Clinic (GCLC): GCLC's immigration team specializes in family-based immigration, including assistance with family petitions, naturalizations, waivers, and deportation defense.
• Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF): MALDEF can assist tenants in Illinois who have been threatened or evicted due to their immigration status.
  • Phone: 312-427-0701

WELCOMING CENTERS
What is a Welcoming Center?

The Illinois Welcoming Centers (IWC) are a network of 34 full-service locations across the state, offering free, comprehensive support services to all immigrants and refugees in Illinois—regardless of immigration status.

What to Expect:
• Personalized case management and support in a culturally and linguistically appropriate manner.
• Assistance accessing benefits and services from state, federal, and local social service agencies.
• Development of Community Alliances to improve service coordination and strengthen local support networks.
• Community education workshops to empower and inform immigrant and refugee communities.

List of welcoming centers: IDHS: Illinois Welcoming Center (IWC)

Javier Loera Cervantes is a lifelong Southside Chicago resident. He has deep roots in Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood, where he developed his intrinsic characteristics of hard work and sacrifice from watching his single immigrant mother Victoria work to ensure their family would have a better future. From an early age, he learned the meaning of humility, accountability and integrity, and became passionate about advocating for others, especially those who cannot advocate for themselves.

Javier’s dedication to helping working families naturally led him to a career at Service Employees International (SEIU Health Care Illinois and Indiana). After studying visual communications from the International Academy of Design and Technology, and labor studies at the University of Illinois Chicago School of Labor, he worked as a union representative for 12 years before becoming a nursing home division coordinator. He also successfully led a handful of contract campaigns that resulted in substantial wage increases, affordable health insurance, and retirement benefits.

After his work with SEIU, he began making a difference for his community through work with the Illinois State Senate. He was first appointed as State Senator of the 1^st District in the fall of 2022, and was re-elected to the post in 2024. Since becoming a senator, Javier has committed to championing legislation addressing access to health care, laborers, immigrant workers, criminal law, and environmental issues.

His passion for progressive change is also motivated by his daughter Madison, who is a visual artist and community advocate. Her advocacy inspires him to pass initiatives that would ensure a better future for the next generation.

Currently, he serves as the Chairman of the Criminal Law committee, and as a member of the Senate Energy & Public Utilities, Labor, Licensed Activities, Pensions, and Appropriations – Education Committees. In his spare time, you can find him and his daughter taking photos around the city. To follow along with the legislation he is working on this year, click here.

The 1st Senate District includes the following neighborhoods:

Garfield Ridge, Archer Heights, West Elsdon, Brighton Park, Gage Park, Chicago Lawn, New City, McKinley Park, Bridgeport, Armor Square, Lower West Side and the Near South Side.