 Claretian Associates CEO Angela Hurlock Honoree at the Enterprise 40th Anniversary National Conference CEO Angela Hurlock will be one of The Impactful 40 honorees at the Enterprise 40th Anniversary National Conference. Enterprise is honoring 40 Indvidual's who have helped break boundaries and strengthen communities over the past 40 years. Read more about Angela as an honoree here.  Michelle Thomas new Safe Passage Program Manager Claretian Associates welcomes Michelle Thomas as the new Safe Passage Program Manager. Michelle will supervise Safe Passage Community Watchers at six local Chicago Public Schools. Michelle has been with the Claretian Associates team since 2009. Michelle started at Claretian Associates as a Community Watcher for Safe Passage. The Safe Passage Program provides a safe passage for students going and coming from school. She was approached by the office clerk at Bowen High School because she was an involved parent. Afterwards, Michelle was promoted to a Safe Passage Base Operator for three years and later she became the Team Lead for two years. Then she was promoted to Safe Passage Program Coordinator. When Claretian Associates provided rental assistance through the Chicago Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP), Michelle transitioned to an ERAP Intake Specialist. Once ERAP concluded Michelle applied and became a Case Manager for Claretian Associates violence intervention program, Communities Partner 4 Peace (CP4P). Now Michelle will manage the Safe Passage Program. “I’m looking forward to being more hands on,” said Michelle.  UNITY Squad Afterschool Programming “Squad Up” UNITY Squad will have Squad Up afterschool programming on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4 p.m. - 5 p.m. at the SALUD Center for 13-18 years old. “This year we want youth to squad up for change. We want friends to gather and come to our afterschool space to learn about how they can make positive and affective change,” said Youth and Family Coordinator Pamesha Robinson. During Squad Up afterschool programming youth will learn to become chance agents in their community. Pamesha will have organizations present to youth about family structure, school fatigue, bullying prevention, teen dating aspects, and more. Youth will meet in the SALUD Center Teen Drop-In Space for more information contact Pamesh at probinson@claretianassociates.org  Harvest Fest The South Chicago Neighborhood Network will have a Harvest Festival on October 28, at the SALUD Center from 4 p.m. - 6 p.m. at the SALUD Center multi-purpose event space. Fun Autumn activities will take place like potato sack races and making smores. There will be food, raffles, games, and music. For more information contact Youth and Family Coordinator Pamesha Robinson at probinson@claretianassociates.org  Yoga Classes at the SALUD Center The South Chicago Neighborhood Network in partnership with Yoga Care is offering free yoga classes at the SALUD Center on Saturdays from 10 a.m. - 11 a.m. Yoga mats are provided. “I think it's important that we learn healthier ways to cope with stress. Mindfulness is a good coping mechanism to introduce to people,” said Program Manager Tiarra Owens. Registration is not required, but it is encouraged. For more information contact Tiarra at tiarrao@claretianassociates.org Register here.  The South Chicago Neighborhood Network Trauma-Informed Symposium The annual South Chicago Neighborhood Network Trauma-Informed Symposium, Bruised But Not Broken, will take place October 24 through October 27 virtually. The symposium is a trauma informed conference where community members and providers come together to discuss and learn about different ways to make a better trauma informed community. For more information contact Program Manager Tiarra Owens at tiarrao@claretianassociates.org. Register here.  Back-to-School and Wellness Fair The South Chicago Neighborhood Network (SCNN), Communities Partnering 4 Peace (CP4P), and PlayStreets held the annual Back-to-School and Wellness Fair on August 18 at 9108 South Brandon. Advocate Aurora Heath provided the fair with three mobile health vans, Child Safety and Prevention, Immunization, and Blood Pressure. In partnership with United Way of Metro Chicago, Advocate Aurora Health, and PlayStreets, SCNN provided 350 school backpacks. PlayStreets in collaboration with CP4P provided a safe space and food for community members. PlayStreets had outdoor games, a bouncy house, and family friendly music. The Advocate Aurora Health Immunization van provided 20 back-to-school health physicals. Community members also received take home COVID-19 tests from Chicago Family Health Center. In total 40 resource vendors attended. Program Manager Tiarra Owens wanted community members to be aware of resources in their own neighborhood. “I think it's important for community members to see that there are other community organizations in their neighborhood that provide resources. It gives organizations the chance to network as well,” said Tiarra. Seniors
The South Chicago SALUD Center Seniors and Villa Gaudalupe Seniors held luncheons for Hispanic Heritage Month. The luncheons were catered by local South Chicago restaurants. During the summer UNITY Squad youth members and seniors gardened together in the SALUD Center garden beds. The vegetables were pulled and distributed during the monthly food giveaway. “The seniors can enjoy the vegetables that they grew,” said Social Services Coordinator Wendy Steward.  We’re Building
The New Homes have passed final inspections and will soon have occupancy. The Peloton and Precore equipment were delivered and installed in the fitness center. Currently Claretian Associates is in discussions with partners to help run and operate the fitness center and pool.
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 Back-to-School and Wellness Fair The South Chicago Neighborhood Network, PlayStreets and community partners will have the annual Back-to-School Event on August 18, at 9108 South Brandon. In partnership with Advocate Aurora Health, a dental and vaccination van will be provided. Chicago Family Health Center will also have health resources such as take home COVID tests, back to school physicals, and more. Program Manager Tiarra Owens wanted to have the Back-to-School event because of the importance of health and to bring awareness to local resources to the community. “It's important that people have access to proper health care,” said Tiarra Owens. There will be a bookbag giveaway made possible by United Way of Metro Chicago and other donors. Summer Youth Programming Claretian Associates Summer Youth Programming concluded at the SALUD Center!
Learn more about summer youth programming and final presentations below. The students were interested in the legal system and invited the Cook County District Attorney's Office to learn more about it. The youth prepared for a mock trial with them. “The Cook County District Attorney’s Office came by to teach the youth about prosecution, a defense team and overall, the legal system,” said Program Manager Tiarra Owens. UNITY Squad final presentation was a mock trial based upon a scene from the movie American Skin. CEO Angela Hurlock was the judge, a few students from TechCorps and Claretian Associates staff members also played a role in the mock trial. Parents and community members were in attendance to watch the mock trial. “I wanted to have a mock trial to teach the youth about civic engagement and critical thinking skills,” said Family and Youth Coordinator Pamesha Robinson.  The youth also collaborated with the South Chicago SALUD Center Seniors for gardening. On the residential side of the SALUD Center are garden beds where the youth and seniors gardened together. “The youth were able to interact with the seniors. A lot of the seniors are going through social isolation because of the pandemic. It was a great opportunity for UNITY Squad to spend time with the seniors,” said Tiarra.  UNITY Squad had an award luncheon at Maggiano's and received their certificates from Tiarra and Pamesha. UNITY Squad Summer Instructor Alycia Evans, and Summer Programming Interns Taliah Bickart and Eleanor Johnston received certificates of appreciation. This summer the TechCorps students became web developers. TechCorps students created websites for Google Clients. The students created websites from scratch by learning HTML, CSS, Java Script, and more. In collaboration with Google, the students were divided into teams and assigned to a company to create their website. The students not only learned the technical part of building a website, but team dynamics, leadership and project management skills. The teams presented their finished websites to parents, friends, Claretian Associates, TechCorps staff, and Google virtually at the SALUD Center multipurpose event space. Afterwards, students received their certificate from TechCorps Executive Director Tina Chambers, TechCorps Program Manager Jeremy Rembert, and their summer instructors. Both UNITY Squad and TechCorps will have programming for the school year. For more information contact tiarrao@claretianassociates.org  Hoops in the Hood Claretian Associates Hoops in the Hood basketball camp was featured on WTTW Chicago Tonight. Watch the feature here. Hoops in the Hood provides a safe place for youth to play basketball. Neighborhood youth came on Wednesdays and Thursdays to play and learn basketball skills. The basketball camp concluded with participants enjoying brunch and receiving certificates. “We hope to have Hoops in the Hood next year,” said SALUD Center Program Manager April Morris.  PlayStreets The next PlayStreets event will be held in collaboration with the Back-to-School and Wellness event at 9108 South Brandon on August 18 at 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. The next two PlayStreets will be at Thrope Elementary and Arnold Mireles. For more information contact Safe Passage Program Manager Michelle Thomas at michellet@claretianassociates.org  Seniors The South Chicago SALUD Center Seniors Gardened with the UNITY Squad youth in the court yard. The seniors and youth planted the fruits and vegetables seeds together. A senior already had vegetables growing in their apartment and showed the youth how to transplant plants to a garden bed. “The seniors have been watering and doing the weeding,” said Social Services Coordinator Wendy Steward.  We’re Building
The New Home on 92 and Brandon is awaiting the final inspection on the first two units. The SACRED project has passed pivotal city councils allowing for bidding and permits. SCARED will have 81 units of affordable housing with 6000 square feet of commercial space. We are searching for general contractors to price and build the project.  Program Manager Tiarra Ownes graduates with her Master’s Degree Program Manager Tiarra Owens graduated from National Lewis University with her Master's degree in Public Administration with a concentration in Community Psychology. Tiarra decided to pursue this degree because she wanted to professionalize her skills. “I wanted to have the right tools to advocate for policy changes in the community,” said Tiarra. At Claretian Associates Tiarra manages youth programming and she always shares her education journey with the youth. “I tell the youth pick something that you love and pursue it. It does not have to be college, but contribute something to your community, the world, and to yourself,” said Tiarra. Tiarra hopes her master’s degree can help her be a voice and advocate for her community. Tiarra is the first college graduate in her family and single mom of two daughters. “I have a teenage daughter, it's important that she sees me continue to grow in my education, so that it motivates her as well,” said Tiarra.  SSA moved into the SALUD Center The Special Service Area 5 (SSA 5) has moved into the SALUD Center offices. “I think it makes people happy that they can walk into the old YMCA because we all have memories here,” said SSA 5 Program Manager Crystal Guerra. The SSA 5 serves the Commercial Avenue businesses and connects them with city opportunities. Learn more about the SSA 5 here. The SSA 5 helps established businesses on Commercial Avenue. They also help businesses get started. “We are the eyes on the ground to help local businesses flourish,” said Crystal. Recently the SSA held a sidewalk sale, where vendors were welcome to have a table and sell their products. “The idea is to get commerce active, bring the community together to consume, shop locally, and up lifting ourselves,” said Crystal. The SSA is managed by a local nonprofit South Chicago Parents and Friends. Crystal is the new Program Manager for SSA 5. Crystal is a longtime resident of the Southeast Side of Chicago. Crystal is excited to be in her new role, to help sustain businesses in the community. “It's been nice working with the community and getting to meet the business owners,” said Crystal. A community calendar has been added to the SSA 5 website. “Anyone can complete a form and the event will automatically upload to the community calendar,” said Crystal. Visit the SSA 5 website to view and add community events from the 10th Ward. Summer Youth Programming
On July 5, Tech Corps and UNITY Squad summer programming began at the SALUD Center. UNITY Squad is meeting in the Teen Drop In Space with their returning Youth Instructor Alisha Evans. Tech Corps meets twice a day with a morning and afternoon group. “I hope the youth gains another skill. I’m excited for Tech Corps because technology is a life skill youth can take with them and use it for their future,” said Program Manager Tiarra Owens. Claretian Associates will be a Community Based Organization (CBO) for MAPSCorps this summer. “We will be a part of the experience with having the youth do a community assessment. My goal is to have the assessment and find out what type of programs and resources the community needs,” said Tiarra. Afterwards Tiarra will present the results to community stakeholders and organizations. Stay tuned in for the youth's final presentations and projects.  Teen Time UNITY Squad Teen Time concluded with a celebration dinner at Macias on Commercial Avenue. Youth met every Tuesday and Thursday in the Teen Drop-In Space at the SALUD Center. “It was a time for youth to get tools needed to succeed in their everyday life,” said Youth and Family Coordinator Pamesha Robinson. Youth had workshops on personal space and boundaries, teen dating, making positive choices, family relationships, civic engagement and more. “Teen Time was a time for youth to feel safe, study, learn, and be themselves and open. The youth now understand they have a safe space,” said Pamesha. On the residential side of the SALUD Center there are garden beds in the court yard. Youth learned about healthy eating and how to grow their own vegetables. In the future, the youth and seniors from the residential side of the SALUD Center will garden together.  PlayStreets PlayStreets has held two events at Douglas Taylor Elementary and 91 and Houston. “The children were very appreciative and excited about the bouncy house, games, and snacks,” said Safe Passage Program Manager Mustafa Sulaiman. Neighborhood streets are shut down for children and families to enjoy outdoor activities, food, and music. Check our social media for the next PlayStreets event or contact Claretian Associates’ Programs Department at 773-734-9181.  Hoops in the Hood Hoops in the Hood basketball camp starts July 13 - August 13 from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays at the SALUD Center for youth ages 11- 15. Youth will participate in basketball drills and skills. There will be five groups of five and each group will play against each other. For more information or if interested in applying contact the Claretian Associates’ Programs Department at 773- 734- 9181.  Seniors Social Services Coordinator Wendy Steward and Residents Service Coordinator Jennifer Turner had Father’s Day luncheons for the South Chicago SALUD Center and Villa Guadalupe Senior Services Senior Residents. Wendy also had an Ice Cream Social. “I wanted the seniors to relax and socialize and enjoy each other's company,” said Wendy. In the next few weeks Villa Guadalupe seniors will have a movie day.  We’re Building One of the New Homes is nearly completed. In a few weeks, we should be ready for its first tenant. The SALUD Center fitness center will soon receive its first set of Peloton cardio and weightlifting equipment. |
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