​On May 4th Claretian Associates hosted Making Waves for South Chicago, a community swimming pool fundraiser. Attendees heard a conversation with Claretian CEO Angela Hurlock and Swim Olympian Cullen Jones about his career and the importance of knowing how to swim.  Salud Center Program Manager April Morris spoke on why bringing back the South Chicago pool is important to community. Learn more about event here. We are grateful to those who attended and contributed.  ​

Cinco de Mayo Senior Resource Fair  ​

End to Gun Violence Awareness Event ​

Join Claretian Associates and Communities Partnering 4 Peace for End to Gun Violence Awareness Event on Thursday, June 25th, at Peoples Park from 4:00 until 6:00 PM. The event will honor the memory of the lives taken by gun violence and bring awarenesses to the impact on the community. For more information contact Tiarra Owens at [email protected] or Eriberta Sanchez at [email protected]

Vendor Marketplace​

Join Claretian Associates and other community organizations on Saturday, June 13th for the Sweet Home South Chicago Vendor Marketplace at the SALUD Center. Come out to shop, connect and support South Chicago local businesses. This is a great opportunity to discover unique products, meet local vendors and support the community. The Marketplace will be open from 10:00 AM until 2:00 PM. For more information contact Corridor Manager Paul Panciera at [email protected]

OPENING SOON!

We are excited to announce that Salud Center will be partnering with Advocate Health Care to bring accessible, affordable, quality care for all ages from trusted healthcare professionals in your community. Services include well and sick visits, chronic disease management for diabetes, blood pressure checks, and cholesterol screening. Available Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM at Salud Center located at 3039 East 91st Street in Chicago.  ​

Call to schedule an appointment at 312-268-6627 or simply walk in.

Fitness Center ​

Come visit us at the fitness center and take advantage of our very affordable memberships: Classic $14.99, Classic Plus One $25, and Classic. As a member, you can take advantage of our free “Get Fit Class” every Wednesday and Thursday at 10:30 AM.

Jillian has worked in the nonprofit and social services sector for 22 years.  She has always worked with seniors and vulnerable individuals as a case manager, service coordinator, resident service coordinator, residential services, and more. She was a site director for the Chatman Senior Satellite Center working with the Center for New Horizons, and before joining the Claretian team. “This is something I thrive in; I love helping others. I kind of look at myself like an assistant device, ‘tell me your problem and I will solve it,’” said Jillian. She finds working in nonprofit and social services extremely rewarding. 

Since joining Claretian, Jillian’s favorite part has been getting to know the seniors and residents. “Seniors always have a lot of questions and one of the best feelings is being able to answer and provide them with the proper resources,” said Jillian. She believes Claretian is a great and strong agency and loves that it is located in South Chicago. Jillian looks forward to her professional growth at the company. ​

Making Waves for South Chicago 

Claretian Associates and P33 will kick off their celebration of Water Week with Making Waves for South Chicago, a special fundraising reception. We look forward to bringing back the pool and creating a fun space for community members to make new memories.

Construction for Sustainable Affordable Commercial Real Estate Development (SACRED) is 40% complete. SACRED, located at 92nd and South Burley, will have 81 units of affordable housing, 6,000 square feet of commercial space, and 44 parking spaces. Progress is moving steadily, and Claretian Associates is excited to share the video below. 

OPENING SOON!

We are excited to announce that Salud Center is will be partnering with Advocate Health Care to bring accessible, affordable, quality care for all ages from trusted healthcare professionals in your community. Services include well and sick visits, chronic disease management for diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Available Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM at Salud Center located at 3039 East 91st Street in Chicago.    ​

Call to schedule an appointment at 312-268-6627 or simply walk in.

Education Focus Group 

Claretian Associates will host two Education Focus Group sessions on May 12th and 26th. Participants will only need to attend one session.  The focus groups are designed to gather input from community members, parents, and partners on how we can collectively support and advocate for improved educational outcomes. Register here. For more information contact Program Manager Tiarra Owens at [email protected] 

Claretian Associates was selected by the Department of Planning and Development to be a corridor lead for the new commercial corridor storefront activation program launching April 2026. Target areas will include East 92nd St from S Harbor Ave to South Exchange Ave; South Commercial Ave from 89th St to 93rd St; and East 91st St from South Exchange Ave to South Houston Ave. If you are a current or aspiring business or property owner located these areas, you may be eligible for capital improvement funds and business support services. For more information, please contact Corridor Manager Paul Panciera at [email protected] ​

Seniors 
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The seniors at Villa Guadalupe and the South Chicago Salud Center continue to benefit from monthly group physical therapy provided by Regal Health. Once a month, a licensed physical therapist leads an educational and interactive session focused on improving mobility and strength. Last month’s focus was fall prevention. During the session, the therapist demonstrated the proper use of walkers and emphasized the importance of standing with good posture when a walker is not needed. The seniors have learned different exercises for stronger mobility to help support daily activities and reduce the risk of falls. 

Department of Planning and Development Meeting  

The Real Estate Development team attended the South Chicago Land Use Framework Open House on March 18th hosted by the City of Chicago’s Department of Planning and Development. CA provided updates on the SACRED construction and presented on the STEEL Homes development. CA was able to collect interest from prospective buyers. If you are interested in taking a survey or getting on a list to receive homebuyer readiness assistance, sign-up here.    ​

New Hire
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​Claretian Associates is pleased to welcome Nikkitta McCoy Layton as our Senior Director of Real Estate where she will oversee property management, real estate development, and economic development initiatives. 

Nikkitta’s passion for housing developed early in her career while working as a legal assistant for an attorney specializing in estate planning and real estate. The experience sparked her interest in housing and led her to a brief career as a real estate agent.  Nikkitta then returned to school to deepen her understanding of housing systems and their impact.    While earning her undergraduate degree in African American Studies, she explored how real estate and housing policies disproportionality affected communities of color This inspired her to pursue a Master’s degree in Urban Planning.  

Following graduate school, Nikkitta joined Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago (NHS) as a Development Associate. When the market turned, she transitioned into commercial real estate brokerage gaining valuable experience. She later returned to development work as a Development Associate at Preservation Of Affordable Housing (POAH).  
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In her current role, Nikkitta is focused on the completion of SACRED and advancing the development of STEEL Homes.  She is also looking forward to working closely with the seniors on the renovation of Villa Guadalupe. “Owning a home is one of the greatest avenues to wealth accumulation in Unites States,” said Nikkitta. “It is something you can pass down through generations and provides stability."  ​

Cinco De Mayo Senior Resource Fair  

Join Claretian Associates and the Department of Family and Supportive Services, and other community organizations for the Cinco de Mayo Health and Resources Fair, on Tuesday, May 5th from 10:00 AM until 2:00 PM at the Victory Center located at 9223 S. Burley. Come and explore community and health resources, enjoy music, food, and entertainment.  For more information contact Senior Satellite Program Manager Traci Darling at [email protected] 

Light in the Night Events 

Join Communities Partnering 4 Peace, for the March series of Light in Night events, on April 10th, 17th, and 24th. These community events will take place across the neighborhoods of South Deering, South Chicago, and South Shore. Enjoy an afternoon from 4:00 until 6:00 PM filled with music, delicious warm food, and valuable community resources provided by the CP4P violence prevention team.  These events are designed to create safe, positive spaces where neighbors can come together and support one another.