Claretian Associates
9108 South Brandon Avenue Chicago,IL | Phone: 773.734.9181 | Fax: 773.734.9221
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Happy New Year!

1/25/2021

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Together we are making a difference! Thank you for your continued support during this pandemic. Your support made us thrive for our community during these unprecedented times.

Here is Claretian Associates Year in Review:
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​Our Program Outreach Coordinator, James Sims, at the time case manager for Communities Partnering for Peace (CP4P), graduated from Metropolitan Peace Academy and was awarded the Professionalism Award. To read more about his accomplishment click here.

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​Our Program Outreach Coordinator, James Sims, at the time case manager for Communities Partnering for Peace (CP4P), graduated from Metropolitan Peace Academy and was awarded the Professionalism Award. To read more about his accomplishment click here.

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When the State of Illinois went into a stay-at-home order because of COVID-19, many of our residents were left with food insecurity. In March, thanks to our partner, Urban Growers Collective, we provided our senior residents with fresh produce. In addition, during the summer and fall seasons, every Thursday, Urban Growers Collective and Chi-Fresh, provided the community with fresh produce boxes and warm meals to over 150 families.  

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​Thanks to United Way, the South Chicago Neighborhood Network, put together a non-perishable food pantry for senior residents at the root of the pandemic. Not only did they coordinate a food pantry, but also provided food gift cards from the local grocery store, 1st Choice, for senior residents, and community families.  To learn more click here.

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Throughout the year we promoted the 2020 Census through our social media platforms. Our Safe Passage program handed out Census material and helped community members with filling out the Census form.  To watch our Census community videos, click here. ​

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​Due to the pandemic many parents were emotionally overwhelmed with parental stress. Therefore, the South Chicago Neighborhood Network partnered with Metropolitan Family Services for virtual parent support groups.

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​We were selected 
by the Department of Housing and the COVID-19 Response Fund to assist families that were affected with the pandemic for food and rental assistance. We have been able to provide assistance to more than 150 families. 

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​The South Chicago Neighborhood Network and Advocate Aurora Health partnered to provide virtual support groups for many whom were experiencing grief and loss because of the pandemic. 

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During the summer thanks to our funder Allstate, we purchased bikes, so the youth from the UNITY Squad, CP4P outreach workers, and community members could participate in community bike rides three days a week. This not only promoted healthy behavior, but also a safe social distance summer activity. ​
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​In collaboration with the Chicago Department of Public Health, Build Chicago, CLOCC, and Lurie Children's Hospital, in order to have a socially distance Playstreets, every Thursday in July and August, we held “Get Fit Kit” giveaways in various locations in the community. The bags contained healthy activity summer novelties for children to have healthy summer play.  

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​The South Chicago Neighborhood Network, held their annual Trauma Informed Symposium virtually. Senator Robert Peters was the keynote speaker. For five days, community members came together virtually for a series of workshops, to better learn about trauma, empowerment, and resilience. To watch the workshops click here.  

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The UNITY Squad, our youth program, prepared care packages with cloth masks, hand sanitizers, and hard to find items because of the pandemic. The South Chicago Neighborhood Network distributed the care packages to over 250 families.

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Thanks to Lavin Family Foundation and Enchanted Backpack we distributed school supplies, clothing, and shoes to over 200 families from South Chicago and surrounding neighborhoods.  
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​In the Fall, our violence prevention and intervention program, Communities Partners for Peace (CP4P), expanded their boundaries to service the South Deering neighborhood, in addition to South Chicago and South Shore.



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Message from Angela Hurlock

7/2/2020

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Message From Angela Hurlock
Executive Director, Claretian Associates
  


Let me start by saying, I am thankful for each of you – each citizen, every neighbor living in the Claretian Communities in South Chicago—the place we all call home.


Like many of you, I’m unpacking and sorting out life during the pandemic and in light of recent events of civil unrest.

I am a wife and mother raising a Black young man in South Chicago. I’m angry, frustrated and at times, distraught. And like you, I’m doing the best I can to respond as things continue to unfold.

The loss of resources in our community due to property loss during the protests, will impact the distances we may have to travel for resources like food, clothing, and other services.

I’m hopeful we can over time rebuild and reconnect the livelihood of the business community and restore resources desperately needed in our community.

I am also heartened by the many acts of kindness, the resilience you are showing, the open acts of humanity to one another, caring about our families, neighbors and friends in South Chicago.

Life as we know it continues to change…almost daily.

Since mid-March, Claretian Associates continues to answer the need of the community by being able to:
  • Provide over 150 families with housing payment assistance of up to $1000 through the generous support of the COVID-19 Response fund and City of Chicago’s Department of Housing.
  • Provide over 300 food boxes full of produce & canned/dry goods and/or hot meals to families in need through support from the Greater Food Depository, Catholic Charities and Roma’s Restaurant.
  • Provide 500 re-usable masks, 1000 rolls of toilet paper and 600 bottles hand sanitizer to local residents.
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We will continue to share relevant news and updates with you.

SO…NOW WHAT?
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As we all continue to sort things out and construct our own “new normal”, the
advice of my grandmother I grew up hearing seems appropriate for the moment, her words were simply, “Just keep living…”

In the spirit of that great advice from my grandmother, “Just keep living...”

Now…we continue to fight to rebuild and improve our neighborhood. The fight for families to increase opportunities for safe and affordable housing with life resources easily available in South Chicago is more critical today than ever before. 

Now…we must work together to destroy the inherent structures of inequity that negatively impact people of color and those with the least income or life resources.

Now…we must not let all the rage, destruction and loss or hopelessness be in vain. Claretian Associates stands for activism that engages the community toward the goal of our collective desire for true change calling for different actions, different accountability and different commitments from the powers that be especially those elected to serve the people.

Now…we must restore our selves and the neighborhood we know and love. We can continue making South Chicago safer for our children; improving schools and connection resources for our seniors and working individuals and families.

Now…we can continue making our neighborhood what we want and need for our future, right here.

Now…we focus our fight and harness our energy toward fueling REAL, true change being a true voice and representation for EQUITY in the WORLD.

Please be safe and enjoy the holiday weekend!
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City of Chicago Announces $5 Million Grant program to Support Small Businesses impacted by COVID-19

5/1/2020

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We Would Love to Have You Visit Soon!


Hours

M-F: 8:30am - 4:30pm

Telephone

773-734-9181

Email

 brendat@claretianassociates.org