Closing Out Summer Programming 

Our final Play Streets Event of the summer was the Health and Wellness Fair, sponsored by the South Chicago Neighborhood Network (SCNN) and community partners.  Communities Partnering 4 Peace (CP4P), our violence prevention program, partnered with CPS and Metropolitan Family Services to provide a back-to-school backpack giveaway. 

Thanks to the Chicago Public Schools, SCNN provided 100 backpacks, and our partner Metropolitan Family Services also supplied families with 160 backpacks. The COVID-19 vaccine was available through Chicago Family Health Center. In total, 25 vendors attended the health and wellness fair. Tiarra Owen, SCNN Program Manager, hopes the health and wellness fair can be an annual end-of-summer celebration. 

Ronnie Chester, Salud Center Program Manager, directed this summer’s Play Street events with School Watchers from the Safe Passage Program. Over 400 in total attended the events. “The community came out as best they could. We had limitations for entertainment because of the pandemic, but we still had a nice turnout,” said Ronnie.  The Safe Passage Watchers kept the children engaged at the different play stations and canvassed the nearby blocks for community residents to attend the events.  

This was our second year directing, the South Chicago Steel Rides, community bike rides. Four bike rides took place, but a few more were canceled due to weather. Ronnie, being a former Chicago Park District employee, arranged for Besser Park and their youth to participate. Bike riders were able to enjoy their front lake view while riding and at Rainbow beach.  ​

Teen Summer Programming 

UNITY Squad finished the last two weeks of its program in person. Many of the students had never met in person before because the first four weeks were virtual. Youth had the opportunity to get acquainted, build friendships, listen to guest speakers, and practice yoga together.  

Our partner Yoga Care, taught yoga to the students virtually. This is their third year practicing yoga with UNITY Squad. “Since the South Chicago Neighborhood Network is focusing on mental health and trauma, we want to make sure we are focusing on health in general too,” said Program Manager Tiarra Owens. The youth found it relaxing. The purpose was to teach participants methods to release stress. The yoga class was instructed twice in the gym in-person. 

Our Faith Based Nurse, Shonie Purnell, assisted with leadership and team building. One team-building activity was an obstacle course in the gym to teach youth how to problem solve and work together. Another guest speaker was Rev. Damon Smith, a community organizer. He explained that "even at their young age they can become community organizers.” 

Another guest speaker was Judge Nicole Colbert-Botchway from Saint Louis, Missouri. She explained how the court system works. Participants asked her questions on her background on becoming a lawyer and later a judge. Judge Colbert-Botchway also spoke about her cases.  Many of the youth were very engaged because of their interest in law and advocacy.  

Youth participants also watched a presentation from 5-4-3-2-1 Go! Clocc Program from Lurie Children's Hospital on healthy eating and how to become health ambassadors. The presentation focuses on how youth should appropriately portion vegetables, fruit, and dairy. "We always have them speak to the youth so they can learn how to make healthy choices with their eating," said Tiarra.  
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We were also a host site for MAPSCorps for six weeks. MAPSCorps students used the innovation lab and recorded data based on assets in the community.  Students develop a research question and then canvas the community. They are provided with cell phones to upload their findings. Their mapping is geared towards their research question, “What should the priority investment in South Chicago be and where should that investment come from?” Students presented their results at the MAPSCorps Scientific Symposium.  ​
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Mustafa Suliman is the new program coordinator for Safe Passage. Since Chicago Public Schools are back in session, Mustafa is hiring Safe Passage Watchers for the school year. His goal is to have the schools fully staffed by Thanksgiving.  

Many applicants are eager to work and “have a vested interest in their community. I interviewed a retired Chicago detective. One of her main goals was to give back to her community,” said Mustafa. 

The program has 14 watchers returning. We have added Douglas Taylor school to our Safe Passage school list which includes Burnham Mathematics & Science Academy, James H. Bowen, George Henry Corliss, Myra Bradwell and Arnold Mireles schools.  

Safe Passage is an initiative that CPS started, to provide safe passage for children walking to school in neighborhoods that are prone to violence. Safe Passage watchers stand at assigned posts and assist children getting to and from school safely.  

Interested applicants can stop by to pick up an application at the SALUD Center, 3039 East 91st Street or contact Mustafa Sulaiman at msulaiman@claretianassociates.org or (773) 734-9181 Ext. 2034  ​
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Robyn Kelly Town Hall 

Local Congresswoman Robyn Kelly held a community town hall at the SALUD Center.  Community residents, seniors and youth from our summer programming had the opportunity to ask Congresswoman Kelly questions. The 10th Ward Alderwoman Susan Sadlowski Garza was also present.  
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Senior Corner 

Two months ago, the food distributions were restarted for SALUD Center senior residents in the remodeled community room. Senior Case Manager, Wendy Steward, gives the senior residents a ticket with a time to pick up their food, while practicing social distancing as well.  The Greater Chicago Food Depository provides the food for distribution once a month. Wendy is assisted by Claretian Associates board member Alita Tucker and two other volunteers, Gail Spann and Shyvette Williams during the monthly food distributions. Seniors are provided with fresh produce, canned food, and bread. Food that is left is donated to other neighborhood food pantries.  ​

Rest in Peace Compton “Pooh” Jones 
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It is with sad hearts that we say goodbye to our brother and co-worker Compton Jones, an outreach worker for the CP4P team. In the last year, Compton was not only a great asset but a wonderful team player, who looked out for others and was glad to use his skill set to change the neighborhood. As one of our older and more seasoned staff, he brought wisdom and “real talk” to the table while helping his participants seek more out of life. As Claretian Associate’s Street Outreach Program has expanded, matured and taken on greater professionalism over the years, our ability to take care of our staff has matured too.  It is with bittersweet emotion that we mourned losing our beloved brother yet rejoice that we were able to help support his family through this difficult time. Even in his passing, Compton’s spirit of taking care of others continues! To God be the Glory! ​

​The South Chicago Neighborhood Trauma Informed Symposium   
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The 4th annual South Chicago Neighborhood Network, Trauma-Informed Symposium will be virtual, October 4 through October 7, 2021.  Register here.  ​

Tech Corps Family Tech Day  
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Join us for Tech Corp next month for hands-on technology, activities and games. Register here.  ​

Community Announcements 
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Advocate Aurora Health and Sertoma Centre will be having a Mental Health First Aid Training at the Salud Center for Emergency Medical Services September 30, 2021. Register here.   ​

South Chicago Steel Rides  

Our South Chicago Steel Rides have continued this summer with bikes funded last by Allstate. This year, we continued to have bike rides with the intention of having a healthy and safe summer activity, for South Chicago and surrounding neighborhoods. For six weeks, we had a variety of cyclists join. One neighborhood experienced cyclist, Jesse Chapa, was looking forward to this year's bike rides because he rode last year, “I enjoy bike riding, and it was an option available in my neighborhood and I wanted to take advantage of it.” Jesse, a Southeast resident has been cycling most of his life as a hobby.  ​

Play Streets

Our annual Play Street events have been a success this year again. We close off high crime streets in in South Chicago to provide a fun, healthy, safe summer for the community. This year's entertainment included outdoor Connect Four, Jenga, bean bag toss and a bicycle raffle. Ronnie Chester, the new Salud Center Program Manager, said his goal was “To get as many kids out of their house, for some constructive fun and organized play” this summer.   

August 18th on the final day of Play Streets, the South Chicago Neighborhood Network (SCNN) and partners will host a health and wellness fair from10am to 2pm, in the parking lot, of 9108 South Brandon Ave. According to Program Manager, Tiarra Owens, the Faith and Health Initiative committee of SCNN, chose to have the fair because with the pandemic, “the health disparities are the same as before. We wanted to make sure we can continue to provide resources to our community, so it won’t be hit so hard against the new variant of COVID-19.”  

A COVID-19 Vaccination Van, from Chicago Family Health Center, will be available.   ​

UNITY Squad  

Summer programming for UNITY Squad started in July virtually with the first four weeks and the last two in person. This year marked four years since UNITY Squad was established. In partnership with One Summer Chicago, students are employed to learn in a series of modules, focused on leadership development, mental health and wellness, trauma-informed, work force preparedness, and civic engagement. Students complete a series of activities, and earn badges on skills they have learned.  

During the summer, two instructors Alycia Evans and Brandon Young spear head the program. Although virtual learning can be challenging, students have the chance to practice yoga once a week. Students will have the opportunity to meet Congresswoman Robin Kelly this summer.    

The program has expanded from summer participation during the whole academic year. Brandon, the all-yearlong UNITY Squad Instructor, says the best part of working with the students is the challenge of guiding and directing youth from different backgrounds, “I like being able to share experiences, information, and knowledge that is out there.”  ​

Seniors Spotlight
  
Recently our Case Managers have restarted monthly resident senior bingo, which was put on pause because of the social distancing. Case Manager Jessica Cortez, decided to resume bingo due to social isolation, “their health was deteriorating.” Before summer ends, a few bingo games will be outside with hotdogs and hamburgers. At least once a month Jessica has a senior activity taking place. Senior trips to Walmart or Pete’s Fresh Market have also restarted.   ​

The pandemic unleashed countless of circumstances to many of our residents and communities, who were probably already in distress, except now with full force. Our foundation is providing affordable housing, so when Claretian Associates was given the opportunity to provide rental assistance, we did not hesitate to move forward and support our community residents in need. 

We knew many were struggling to keep a budget and find employment, so we added a component in order to participate in the rental assistance program. We partnered with the Center for Changing Lives (CCL) to provide financial awareness to our clients. Once our clients completed the workshops, in return the clients received their incentive of the rental assistance payment. Subsequently, Our Director of Programs, Tevonne Ellis, sprouted the idea of adding an education component. “We just didn’t want to give clients’ money for rental assistance, we wanted to provide them with tools and skillsets to help them navigate through their difficult time,” said Ms. Ellis.

CCL is a nonprofit financial opportunity center and a HUD approved housing counseling agency, located in the Logan Square neighborhood. The center helps with connecting people to resources that may not be available to them. CCL has three areas that they focus on: employment, finances and public resources. Clients earned their incentive by taking two workshops, employment, and financial coaching with CCL. The clients were able to meet with a CCL financial, employment coach, and have one-on-one sessions. In addition to the sessions, the clients had to take group workshops of their choice, such as financial and employment. Clients were taught about budgeting, credit, debt reduction, networking, and developing their pitch. 

Linda Millan, Community Outreach and Engagement Coordinator at CCL, regularly sees clients that require urgent resources, especially during the pandemic. ”You're not going to be thinking of home buying goals when you don’t have a job or you don’t know where your next meal is coming from, that’s reality. We understand that and people need resources right now to stay alive, to have a meal, to stay housed. It’s great we were able to provide funds and it's kind of like we opened up a window because if ever clients find themselves in a more stable place they can come back and know that these services are here,” said Ms. Millan. Many clients decided to stay enrolled and completed the program to receive their incentive of the rental assistance payment. 

There was not a requirement for clients to continue after they met the required workshops. However, a few of our clients decided to increase their knowledge and enrolled in CCL's 24-week program, Office Careers Training Program, where clients get certified as a Microsoft Office Specialist in Microsoft Word and Excel. 

We spoke with two of our clients whom we want to recognize as success stories because of their resilience of wanting to continue to improve their lives.  

Melissa Reed

Melissa Reed a mother of four children, three of who are under the age of 18, was behind on her rent. Her children were at home because of eLearning and this did not allow her to work as before. Ms. Reed heard about the rental assistance program through her children's, Learn Charter School. Therefore, Ms. Reed decided to apply for the program.

​The incentive of the rental assistance payment significantly helped Ms. Reed, “Yes! I am so grateful! Now with tax season, I am able to push myself forward, so I won’t be behind. It's good to be a-head than behind.” The rental assistance set Ms. Reed to be a head, and now she can focus on other bills with the money she is saving.

The coaching sessions Ms. Reed attended at CCL were financial, housing, and employment. While Ms. Reed was enrolled in the employment session, she was employed. However, since then she is unemployed and might be reaching out to her employment coach for assistance. 
Ms. Reed would like to be a homeowner down the line. "My financial coach is helping me establish credit, making sure I establish a budget for the house, and following up with goals that I have set for myself," said Ms. Reed.  

Ms. Reed decided to enroll in the CCL’s, Office Careers Training Program to get certified in Microsoft Word and Excel. "I think the program is amazing! I would recommend it to anyone who needs help with finances, employment, or would like to enroll in the six-month program. I am excited, to start the program. I'm going to pick up my laptop today," said Ms. Reed.  She believes this will help her find jobs as a receptionist or any job that require Microsoft Office skills, to move her family forward. ​

Abiola Opadele

Abiola Opadele was not working when she came across the announcement of rental assistance program at her children's school, Learn Charter.  When Ms. Opadele read on the flier about the employment training, which caught her attention. She decided to pursue the opportunity and sign-up for the program. 

Ms. Opadele attended the financial and employment coaching sessions. “For the financial session, my coach, helped me learn about my credit. There was a lot of things I did not know,” said Ms. Opadele. The financial sessions also helped Ms. Opedele learn about saving, so she can be a homeowner in the future.

The employment session for Ms. Opadele was beneficial to her because it taught her how to respond to in an interview. “She started the training like when you go for interview. That was very helpful to me. Sometimes there are things I don’t know. I came from Nigeria to this country, somethings are done differently here,” said Ms. Opadele. 

Ms. Opadele enrolled in the CCL’s, Office Careers Training Program because “I believe in doing something for myself. If I can go ahead with this it gives me a better opportunity in life,” said Ms. Opadele. She believes that by enrolling in this program, she will be able to get a better job, earn more money, and life will better for her and her family. She hopes to pursue a career once she is certified in Microsoft Word and Excel. 

"This is a good program, I benefited in a lot of ways. I was able to pay for my rent while learning as well," said Ms. Opadele. She received gift cards from CCL and Claretian Associates for groceries. Ms. Opadele expressed her children had a good Christmas because of the assistance she received.  ​