ProgramsSurvivors Support Group Communities Partnering 4 Peace (CP4P) partnered with the Chicago Police Department (CPD) to host a Survivors Support Group at the SALUD Center. Survivors of homicide came to the SALUD for a day of therapeutic activities. Participants started the day with brunch and later engaged in therapeutic activities. “We wanted to offer supportive resources and create a safe space for families,” said CP4P Program Supervisor Michael Tafolla. Participants had the chance to participate in yoga. “This gave them an opportunity to focus on themselves and nothing else,” said Supervisor The afternoon ended with a therapeutic circle where participants shared what brought them to the space and were asked to reflect on the close question, ‘what's something that you are taking with you? CP4P hopes to have therapists on site next time to make sure participants leave on a positive note. CP4P will have future Survivors Support Groups. “Our goal has always been to expand our services and our presence in the community in every way possible,” said Michael. For more information contact Michael Tafolla at michaelt@claretianassociates.org Youth Summer Programming There is still time for youth to apply for summer jobs at the SALUD Center!
Seniors For years, the seniors at the South Chicago SALUD Center have attended food distributions through the partnership of the Greater Chicago Food Depository (GCFD). Every first Tuesday of the month the SALUD Center seniors attend a food distribution in the community room that provides fresh vegetables and fruits, canned goods, bread, and more. SALUD Fitness Center SpotlightTwo Local Claretian Missionaries Join the SALUD Fitness Center The SALUD Fitness Center gained another member, Fr. Steve Niskanen. Fr. Steve is a local Claretian Associates board member. “I think the fitness center is great, it's in my neighborhood, and I just have to walk two blocks,” said Fr. Steve. He enjoys the fitness center so much he recruited fellow Claretian brother, Fr. Beauplan Derilus. Fr. Steve and Fr. Beauplan are Claretian Missionaries and preside at Our Lady Guadalupe Parish in South Chicago. Read more about their exercise journey here. Fr. Steve joined the fitness center because he wanted to exercise and stay healthy. He had access to a gym in their house but with a limited number of machines. “I’ve been able to use the elliptical machine. For the first time, I tried the Pelton. I like that because even if it's recorded you have the interaction when to turn on the resistance or increase the cycling,” said Fr. Steve. Exercise has been a part of Fr. Steve’s life; he was a member at the YMCA in California and a fitness center in San Antonio. “I have memories of getting into a routine and that was helpful. We as Claretians are supposed to set a personal project for ourselves that includes exercise. My project right now is to exercise sometime during the day on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. So far, I've kept it up,” said Fr. Steve. Fr. Steve is looking forward to learning more about the weight room machines. His immediate goal is to strengthen his core. Fitness goals for Fr. Steve include better cardio health and getting stronger. “I’ve noticed already that I feel a little bit stronger and healthier,” said Fr. Steve. Fr. Beauplan was encouraged by Fr. Steve to join. “I think you guys are doing a great job here. You can exercise without pressure and in peace,” said Beauplan. Fr. Beauplan joined because he is a pre-diabetic and exercising is important to him. His goals are to exercise and keep his health strong. “I think life is about having good health,” said Beauplan Being athletic was always a part of Fr. Beauplan’s life. “I used to play soccer, basketball, and volleyball. I love to swim,” said Fr. Beauplan. Eleven years ago, Fr. Beauplan used to swim at the SALUD Center formally known as the South Chicago YMCA. “The best way to work out is to swim. You feel it in your body,” said Fr. Beauplan. Both Fr. Steve and Fr. Beauplan come to exercise regularly, at times separately or together. They encourage others to join to stay healthy and it’s a great resource in our community. Staff HighlightsFirst-time Homeowner Claretian Associates congratulates CP4P Case Manager, Fredrick McLaurin, on becoming a first-time homeowner. Fredrick assists returning citizens with reentry services to create a plan for their future. Fredrick was formally incarcerated for 33 years. During that time his main focus was education. “I either stayed in academic or vocational classes,” said Fredrick. He earned his Associate’s degree with honors, Summa Cum Laude. Fredrick also took many vocational classes and earned certificates. While being incarcerated, Fredrick, was being a mentor and facilitator. He taught courses in behavior modification including anger management, domestic violence, lifestyle redirection, and more. “We started a program called Building Block,” said Fredrick. The program was geared towards behavior modification and giving the students the opportunity to have their own wing in the correctional facility to attend classes all day. The program grew from one wing to an entire building. “We were spreading a sear of influence, built towards positive and healthy thinking,” said Fredrick. When Fredrick came home, within three months he started working for a steel mill. That job led him to some health problems, and he eventually interviewed for his current job. “My transition to case management was easy because of the things that are involved with it. I was already deeply involved in case management because my education was mostly geared towards humanities and helping people,” said Fredrick. While Fredrick had previous jobs, he saved money. “I was staying with my brother. He has his own house, and we had an agreement. I was paying him a little rent, it allowed me to save money,” said Fredrick. He started looking for his place of residence. Fredrick thought about getting his own apartment, but a colleague gave him the idea of ownership. Fredrick didn’t think it was possible, but he had good credit. Fredrick started looking for apartments in the southwest suburbs. “After the idea of ownership floated to me, I ended up finding a place in South Deering. When I wake up or I’m sitting on the couch, I look around, I’m flabbergasted. I even can’t talk sometimes. ‘Like wow this is really mine,’” said Fredrick. He didn’t think it would be possible to be a homeowner because he was home for less than three years. Fredrick accomplished a lot since returning home including owning a car, becoming a first-time homeowner, and landing his dream job. “I’ve been blessed, I’m driven and trying to stay focused ever since then. My mom tells people, ‘He got his dream job.’ I'm grateful for the opportunity and I love what I do,” said Fredrick. Employee Appreciation Dinner Claretian Associates hosted an Employee Appreciation Dinner at Roma’s Restaurant to express gratitude for the staff’s hard work. At the dinner, CEO Angela Hurlock announced that Claretian Associates received a $2 million gift from the Yield Giving Open Call. Staff were elated because of the announcement and enjoyed dinner with music and the company of each other. AnnouncementsFitness Center Haven’t signed up for a SALUD Fitness Center Membership yet? Sign up for our $14.99 monthly membership. A day pass is now $5. Join our Circuit Class every Monday at 10 a.m. The Circuit Class is a workout that involves rotating through exercise equipment that will target different parts of the body. You will focus on different muscle groups while learning how to use the various machines. This is another effective exercise that can be incorporated into a healthy lifestyle. For more information contact us at fitness@claretianassociates.org
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Claretian Associates Receives $2 Million Award Claretian Associates is the recipient of a $2 million gift from the Yield Giving Open Call. Claretian was selected from over 6,300 applications in the United States. The gift will help Claretian further its mission of affordable housing and services to South Chicago and surrounding communities. "The donation from MacKenzie Scott is a blessing that we consider to be something extraordinary. It shows an understanding of the need for unrestricted funding for organizations like ours. With this donation, we will be able to serve more families, help our community be healthier, and increase the quality of life,” said CEO Angela Hurlock. Read more about the award here. ProgramsYouth Summer Programming Claretian Associates will be hosting One Summer Chicago, summer youth employment, for the seventh year! Youth can apply for UNITY Squad or Tech Corps. There are a total of 70 spots, 20 for UNITY Squad and 50 for Tech Corps.
This will be the seventh year UNITY Squad offers summer programming. Each year the youth learn life skills. The program teaches them how to team build, problem solve, budget money, and more. In partnership with Yoga Care, youth will participate in yoga lessons once a week. To assist and facilitate the program, we are seeking to hire three positions. View job descriptions here. Youth can also apply for Tech Corps, “Tech Corp can open doors to entrepreneurship; youth will meet with business owners and create mock websites for their business,” said Program Manager Tiarra Owens. Youth will learn computer languages like HTML, Java Script, and how to create a website. Both programs will complete the One Summer Chicago curriculum, My Chi My City, online. Youth complete learning modules focused on leadership development, civic engagement, and more. Youth earn badges when completing the learning modules. The badges help youth advance with future summer employment. For more information contact Program Manager Tiarra Owens at tiarrao@claretianassocites.org Business Cohort At The SALUD Center Claretian Associates is hosting a 12-week business cohort at the SALUD Center. Sunshine Enterprises is an Empowering Black Futures (EBF) partner and Claretian is working in collaboration to promote small businesses in South Chicago. The cohort is designed to help small businesses with branding, budgeting, creating business plans, and more. Most recently a simulation was held that presented to participants a unique environment where they gain hands-on experience running a business. For more information contact EBF Coordinator Monique Thurman at moniquet@claretianassociates.org Black Health Matters Fair Claretian Associates, the South Chicago Neighborhood Network, and Communities Partnering 4 Peace hosted a Black Health Matters Fair at the SALUD Center. The fair was a celebration for Black History Month that included a band of drummers, food, and health resources. The Black Health Matters Fair began with an African opening ceremony by the 63rd Street Drummers. “Residents absolutely loved it. They were dressed in their African attire and enjoyed themselves,” said Resident Service Manager Wendy Steward. The event had a mental health component to it. A speaker from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois Blue Door presented on the importance of mental health. “It was important to us that people understand why we were hosting the fair. A lot of times people do not recognize mental health or trauma issues. We got a speaker that was relatable, to present on health disparities in the Black and Brown community,” said Program Manager Tiarra Ownes. The rest of the afternoon was spent listening to spoken word poetry by the CP4P team and enjoying music and dinner. Community members were able to explore the different health vendors, like the University of Illinois at Urban Urbana-Champaign Extension Program, Chicago Family Health Center, Family Rescue, and more. Safe Passage Welcomes a New School Claretian Associates welcomes Ninos Heros Elementary School to the Safe Passage program. Ninos is located at 8344 S Commercial Ave. Claretian is excited to see the program growing, making it the seventh school for the program. Safe Passage is an initiative that Chicago Public Schools started to provide a safe path for children walking to school. Light in the Night Communities Partnering 4 Peace collaborated with Lost Boyz to host Light in the Night. The event was held at the Lost Boyz location, 1818 E 71st Street. Participants received hygiene bags with a Gatorade water bottle, toothbrush, and other toiletries. Participants enjoyed entertainment with a pony, music, and a warm meal. Seniors With Spring around the corner, the South Chicago SALUD Center senior residents will begin gardening in April. Master Gardner Gregory Bratton, a South Chicago community member, will host a workshop for seniors on how to become involved in gardening. On the residential side of the SALUD Center, the seniors have access to garden beds where seniors and youth from UNITY Squad have gardened together. AnnouncementsCommunities Partnering 4 Peace The next series of Light in the Night events will be April 24th – April 25th from 4pm-5pm in South Shore, South Chicago, and South Deering. This will be the first Light in the Night outdoor series of the year. Each event will have music, food, games for kids, and resources. ProgramsBlack Health Matters Fair Claretian Associates and community partners will host a Black Health Matters Fair on Thursday, February 29th at the SALUD Center, from 4:00 PM- 6:00 PM. The fair will have health clinics from South Chicago, resources for mental health, music, and food. “It is for the whole community, everybody can come explore their options and meet new agencies,” said Resident Service Manager Wendy Steward. For more information, contact Tiarra Owens at tiarrao@claretianassociates.org Youth Mental Health First Aid Training The South Chicago Neighborhood Network (SCNN) hosted a Youth Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training at the SALUD Center. The training was designed to help providers recognize the signs of a mental health crisis in youth and how to address it. At the end of the training, participants receive a certificate of completion and are certified for three years. SCNN encourages professionals in education, youth coordinators, parents and anyone working with youth to take the training. For more information on MHFA training contact Program Manager Tiarra Owens, at tiarrao@claretianassociates.org. Register here for future MHFA training. Recruiting for Summer Youth Programming Claretian Associates, in partnership with One Summer Chicago, will begin accepting summer youth job applications on Monday, March 4th. There will be two summer programs offered, Unity Squad and Web Corps, hosted by Tech Corps. The summer program will run from June 24th through August 2nd. Youth can complete an application here. For more information contact Program Manager Tiarra Owens at tiarrao@claretianassociates.org Communities Partnering 4 Peace Light in the Night On Friday, January 26, Communities Partnering 4 Peace (CP4P) had their first Light in the Night event of the year. CP4P outreach teams from South Chicago, South Shore, and South Deering collaborated to host the event. The event was held at Claretian’s CP4P office located at 3003 E 92nd Street. The event provided the community with a safe space, a warm meal, music, clothing distribution, and more. CP4P also hosted their second Light in the Night on Friday, February 16, at 8850 S. Mackinaw. Participants received a warm meal and enjoyed music. The case management team and outreach workers provided participants with clothing, shoes and other essentials that were available. Last year CP4P hosted approximately 70 Light in the Nights in the neighborhoods of South Chicago, South Shore, and South Deering. The next Light in the Night will be on Friday, March 22, from 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm at 1818 E.71st Street. Seniors Celebrate Valentine's Day The seniors at Villa Guadalupe and South Chicago SALUD Center enjoyed a Valentine's Day celebration. The community rooms were decorated for the occasion. The seniors played bingo and enjoyed each other's company with lunch and music. Vaccine Clinic at Villa Guadalupe Claretian Associates, in partnership with the Chicago Department of Public Health, hosted a vaccine clinic at the Villa Guadalupe. Vaccines available for the community included Flu, COVID-19, RSV, Hepatitis, Pneumonia, and more. “We want to show the community that we are still trying to stay healthier together. We hosted it at the Villa to accommodate our seniors. We care about them and their health,” said Resident Service Coordinator Yesenia Mckenzie. Staff HighlightsNew CP4P Administrative Coordinator Claretian Associates welcomes Eriberta Sanchez as CP4P Administrative Coordinator. Eriberta will be coordinating community events, providing administrative support to CP4P, and more. Eriberta is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin in Madison. Prior to working at Claretian Associates, she worked in retail. “I always knew that I didn’t want to be in retail, I wanted to do more,” said Eriberta. She wanted to do more for her community. Eriberta was excited to find out Claretian Associates was in her own community. “I chose to work in non-profit for the sole reason that it's working for something greater than themselves,” said Eriberta. Eribert is looking forward to learning more about the CP4P program, falling into her new role, and the summer Light in the Nights. In the NewsEnterprise Blog Claretian Associates was featured on the Enterprise blog for the Empowering Black Futures partner meeting. The meeting included a panel with community businesses to discuss the quality-of-life plan in South Chicago. Read more about the Empowering Black Futures partner meeting here. AnnouncementsPritzker Traubert Plaque The Pritzker Traubert Foundation delivered a plaque to Claretian Associates, acknowledging them as a finalist for the 2020 Chicago Prize. Claretian and seven other community partners teamed up to bring unique projects to reinvigorate South Chicago, such as affordable housing, a local lakefront, and more. We’re Building The seniors at Villa Guadalupe now have new flooring. The carpet was removed from each hallway and common areas, and replaced with new modern plank flooring. Villa Guadalupe has 55 units of affordable housing. March Light in the Night Join Communities Partnering 4 Peace (CP4P) for the next Light in the Night on Friday, March 22nd at Lost Boys Inc. located at 1818 E 71st St. Enjoy a warm meal, music, and other resources. We hope to see you there. Fitness Center Boot Camp If you have not participated in the SALUD Fitness Center Boot Camp, there is still time. Only four more boot camp sessions are left. Each session costs $10. For more information contact Health and Wellness Coordinator Maurice Garrett at 773-908-4859. |
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