November NewsLetter

Lunch Time Impact and Learning Event 

Please join us virtually November 18 at 1 p.m. for our inaugural free lunch Impact and Learning Event. Tiarra Owens, a Claretian Associates Program Manager, will talk about the South Chicago Neighborhood Network, the recently held 4th Annual Trauma Symposium, the Unity Squad and her experience working at Claretian Associates. Please register for the event here.​

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4th Annual Trauma-Informed Symposium
  
The South Chicago Neighborhood Network held a four-day virtual Trauma-Informed Symposium attended by 565 people. The key-note speaker was Vaughn Bryant, Executive Director of Metropolitan Peace Initiative. Each day featured a different topic including Trauma Over the Life Span, Trauma-Informed Care, and Impact on Gun Violence. For the first time, the Symposium provided continuing education units (CEUs) for Licensed Clinical Social Workers, Counselors, and other professionals through partnership with Metropolitan Family Services. 
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SCNN wanted the subject of the symposium to focus on trauma and the effects it has on the community. “We wanted to teach people how trauma is different over the stages of your life and how we as providers experience secondary trauma from the services we provide,” said Program Manager Tiarra Owens.  
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There was a panel discussion to finish out the symposium. Panelists included Illinois State Senator Robert Peters, Tracy Coney from the Metropolitan Peace Initiative, Dewayne Johnson from UChicago Medicine, Daisy Gomez from Heart Grove Behavioral Health System, and Brenda Mitchell from the Everytown Survivors Network. 

The symposium brought new ideas to SCNN’s Chat and Chews workshops, where participants meet for lunch, learning and discussion. “We learned there are still a lot of things that we have not covered from trauma, it's such large broad topic,” said Tiarra. SCNN will be training community members to be “Trauma-Informed Trainers” made possible through their partnership with Metro Peace Initiative. The network will soon also have their First Mental First Aid Trainings.  

Recordings of each symposium workshop will be made available soon here.

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We're Building . . .
with the Help of Fifth Third Bank

Fifth Third Bank and Enterprise Community Partners pledged a $20 million investment from their Neighborhood Investment Program to a list of projects spearheaded by Claretian Associates. 
The investment will focus on projects to revitalize the South Chicago neighborhood over a period of three years. Read more about the community investment here or in the announcement news coverage featured here.  ​​

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Tech Corps Family Tech Day 
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Tech Corps hosted their first Family Tech Day at the SALUD Center. Youth and their families learned about virtual reality, participated in computer science activities and received Tech Corps kits including virtual reality glasses, program materials, and promotional items. 

Families had the opportunity to learn about robotics, virtual reality, and other technology activities. Participants had the chance to assemble their own virtual reality viewers. By scanning a QR code to download the Cardboard app, a virtual reality app, they experienced different reality scenarios. Tech Corps offered board games, Tech-nopoly and Techie Battleship similar to Monopoly and Battleship. The games were designed with similar aims, but with a STEM educational component.  ​​

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Senior Corner 

The South Chicago Senior Homes at the SALUD Center held Medicare 101, an informational presentation for senior residents on October 26 in partnership with JenCare. JenCare presented on the fundamentals of Medicare. “In addition to helping our seniors, this also helped me get more information so I can better guide the seniors,” said Wendy Steward, Senior Social Services Coordinator. There were informational sessions in 
both Spanish and English.   ​

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Safe Passage  
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Lionel Gaston is the Safe Passage Base Operator for Myra Bradwell School of Excellence and Douglas Taylor Elementary, a new school added to the Safe Passage program this year. For his birthday on October 18, Taylor Safe Passage Watchers surprised him with cupcakes. Lionel has been an employee with the Safe Passage Program for 15 years, which supports children traveling to and from school. Watchers are employed by community-based organizations such as Claretian Associates in partnership with the Chicago Public Schools and is continuing to hire for Watchers. Please see hiring information below. ​​

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CP4P Winter Coat Drive 
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Communities Partnering 4 Peace (CP4P) held a winter coat drive in collaboration with Mercy and Grace, a non-profit who hosts coat and toy drives, and distributes hot meals, hygiene packages, and lunch bags to those in need. Winter coats as well as clothes for children and adults were distributed to 75 participants. CP4P will be having another winter gear drive soon. Coats can be dropped off at the CP4P office. 

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​Food Emergency Assistance 

Claretian Associates is offering emergency food assistance with gift cards for groceries from ALDI, Pete's Fresh Market, and Jewel Osco to eligible households. Please see flier for more eligibility requirements or contact Yessica Pineda at yesssic[email protected] for more information. ​

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​SALUD Center Rental Space  
The SALUD Center has different available spaces to rent for events. Please see flier for more details or check out our SALUD Center webpage here. If interested contact Tevonne Ellis at [email protected]  ​

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We’re Hiring 
Claretian Associates is hiring for a Part-time Youth Coordinator and Safe Passage Watchers. For more information the positions see descriptions here.   ​

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CP4P
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Communities Partnering for Peace is having a Light In The Night event and Thanksgiving warm meal distribution. See fliers below for more information.  
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