ProgramsSmall Business Resource Fair
Claretian Associates, Center for Changing Lives, Fifth Third Bank, and other community partners hosted a Small Business Resource Fair at the SALUD Center. Small business owners had the opportunity to attend breakout sessions such as Legal Essentials for Small Businesses, AI for Business, Capital Readiness 101, and more. Attendees also had the chance to explore resources and receive one on one technical assistance from Fifth Third Bank. The highlight of the event was TechRise Pitch Deck competition, where five small local businesses presented their business plan, product, and more and competed for a $25,000 grant. The local businesses that competed were BuenGro, Luna's Enlightment, Altgeld Bitcoin Reserve, Indigo Cafe / Bridgeview Brew, and The Record Track. The winner of the competition was Indigo Cafe / Bridgeview Brew, a future coffee shop in South Chicago that will be located at 3008 E 92nd Street. South Chicago Neighborhood Trauma-Informed Symposium
On October 17th, the South Chicago Neighborhood Network, University of Chicago Medicine, and other community partners, hosted their annual Trauma-Informed Symposium, Honoring Our Past, Healing Our Present, Building Our Future. It was exciting to be-in-person for the first time since 2019. The symposium highlighted how trauma has shaped the community systems and identified strategies for resilience and healing that align with the South Chicago Quality of Life Plan goals. This year, the symposium was a panel from the University of Chicago Grand Rounds, moderated by Dr. Doriane C. Miller. The panel consisted of President of Advocate Trinity Hospital Michelle Y. Blakely, Principal and CEO of St. Francis De Sales High School, Dr. Roni-Nicole Facen, Principal of Wendell Smith Elementary School, Dr. Turan Crockett, Manager of Violence Prevention, Karma Wilson from Ann & Robert H Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, Director of Initiatives Norma Sanders from the Greater Auburn Gresham Development Corporation, City Planner Jasmine Gunn from the City of Chicago, and Executive Director of Community Benefit & Health Improvement DonElla Bradford at the University of Chicago Medicine. The panelist focused on five of the seven pillars of the South Quality of Life Plan, which are health, safety, education, economic development, and housing. The healing portion of the symposium was building a better relationship with community members, networking, being open and honest about the work being done around the quality of life plan. “We know that South Chicago has been systematically disinvested for the last 20 years, so the healing of that is not focusing on the past but focusing on what can be done moving forward. We are not going to let our community be disinvested in. We have a plan,” said Program Manager Tiarra Ownes. Other aspects that are needed for the quality of life plan to thrive is funding, and ownership by community members. Attendees had dinner and the opportunity to ask the panelist questions or provide comments. Questions people had were about, how to get involved with the quality of life plan, the current resources available, and health related concerns in South Chicago,” said Tiarra. On November 15th Tiarra and Dr. Miller will be featured on WVON Radio, speaking on the importance of the quality of life plan.  Seniors During Hispanic Heritage month, seniors at Villa Guadalupe, and the SALUD Center celebrated Latin American culture. In their community rooms, seniors came together to play loteria (Mexican bingo), eat catered Hispanic food, and enjoy the company of each other. We Are Building Peoples Park Claretian Associates has installed a new fence around the exterior of the Peoples Park with a gate at the front entry. The gate will be open daily from 9:00 A.M to 5:00 P.M. Claretian will be creating a separate entrance on South Buffalo Ave for an ADA accessible ramp entry into the park. Claretian and NeighborSpace will be hosting a Day of the Dead event at the park on Saturday, November 1st from 12:00 P.M until 3:00 P.M. Staff HighLIGHts Resident Service Coordinator Claretian Associates welcomes Kenya Garcia, as the new Resident Service Coordinator. Kenya will be responsible for fostering healthy communities and promoting resident self-sufficiency by improving community relations and connecting residents to vital resources. She will also support residents in achieving personal goals by providing opportunities and guidance. Kenya will be helping residents from Casa Kirk, South Chicago Rehab, Burley Apartment, Villa Guadalupe, and the Salud Center. “Anything that residents might need assistance with, I do my research and help them,” said Kenya. She will be helping residents with getting their benefit recertification letters and helping them with the annual recertification process. Kenya will also be hosting events and activities for the residents at their buildings, for holidays, birthdays, bingo and more. Other events she will be in charge of are informational sessions on Medicaid and Medicare. Kenya is from southern California and has been living in Chicago for almost a year. Kenya has been working in the nonprofit sector since she graduated. “In all the nonprofits that I’ve worked for, we really do care about the work that we do, and I think that is rewarding,” said Kenya. She began working at a food depository in Los Angeles and was promoted to supervisor for the senior program. When Kenya moved to Chicago, she then worked for the senior program at the Greater Chicago Food Depository. Kenya has worked with seniors for over seven years, so working at Claretian, feels familiar to her. “I really enjoy being able to interact with seniors because all they need is somebody to talk with,” said Kenya. Kenya is looking forward to hosting more events for the seniors and being able to interact more with them. She also wants to build better relationships with the multifamily buildings. Announcements Turkey Basket Giveaway South Chicago Neighborhood Network will host our Annual Turkey Basket Giveaway at the Salud Center, Thursday, November 20, from 4:00 P.M. to 5:00 P.M. Baskets will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, while supplies last. For more information, contact Program Manager Tiarra Ownes.  Thanksgiving Dinner Enjoy a Community Thanksgiving dinner on November 27th, at the SALUD Center from 11:00 A.M. until 1:00 P.M. Registration is not required. The dinner is sponsored by Claretian Associates, AMTUCA Consulting, Plates on Purpose, and other community organizations. Light in the Night
The next Light in the Night event series will celebrate Thanksgiving on November 20th and 26th in the neighborhoods of South Chicago, South Deering and South Chicago. Come and enjoy a Thanksgiving dinner and fun giveaways.  Fitness Center
If you have not joined the fitness center, take advantage of our affordable memberships: Classic $14.99, Classic Plus One $25, and Classic Paid in Full $150. As a member, you can take advantage of our free “Get Fit Class” every Wednesday and Thursday at 10:30 AM.
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Programs Communities Partnering 4 Peace Claretian Associates and other Community Violence Intervention (CVI) organizations met with U.S. Senator Dick Durbin and State Senator Celina Villanueva to discuss the progress of CVI, the efforts to reduce violence and the impact of recent funding cuts. Learn more about their discussion on reduction in crime here. South Chicago Housing Resource Event
On September 17th, Claretian Associates, in partnership with Fifth Third Bank, and other housing community partners, hosted a housing resource event. Fifth Third Bank’s Financial Empowerment Mobile, known as the eBus, brought resources to the community such as credit counseling, immediate checking account opening, and more. Attendees had the opportunity to see presentations on Claretian’s future housing developments. Communities Partnering 4 Peace Light in the Night distributed books, and book bags with school supplies. Community members enjoyed delicious food, and lively music.
 Public Safety Round Table Claretian Associates hosted a Public Safety Round Table at the SALUD Center. It was a discussion about public safety and community needs. Topics included safety concerns, identifying missing support, and the shared ownership of public safety. Youth Development Program Manager, David Todd, facilitated the conversation with community members and professionals who work in neighborhoods prone to violence. Another round table is planned for a later date to further discuss public safety and ways to collaborate. We Are BuildingMeet, Greet, and Green Day
Claretian Associates and Neighbor Space had a beatification day at Peoples Park located at 3257 E 92nd Street. The day consisted of cleaning the park, planting flowers, and getting to know the neighbors. Communities Partnering 4 Peace (CP4P) outreach workers engaged with community members by gardening and providing them with resources. The back fence was replaced in an effort to secure the area and to promote safety. A ramp will be installed at a later date to improve accessibility.
Staff Highlights Safe Passage Program Manager Claretian Associates welcomes William Branch as the new Safe Passage Program Manager. William will be responsible for managing the Safe Passage team of community watchers, who ensure a safe route for students during the school year. William oversees the team of community watchers who service six schools, Burnham Mathematics & Science Academy, James H. Bowen, George Henry Corliss, Myra Bradwell, Douglas Taylor, Arnold Mireles, and Ninos Heros. His day begins by checking in with each school, to make sure the team feels supported and address any concerns. “I enjoy being in the field, having my boots on the ground. I like talking with the principals, deans, and administrative staff,” said William. William’s background is in youth education. William was a program manager for Youth Guidance Chicago, that provided enrichment programing to schools for students and parents. He has been working with youth for over 10 years. William was a tutor and mentor for elementary and high school students earlier in his career. “I’ve had a passion working with youth. I enjoy working and helping people. That’s a mission I always live by,“ said William. William sees himself as a coach, not a manager, he wants to help community watchers in their next career aspiration. He looks forward to helping and guiding the Safe Passage team, and ensuring the program operates well.  Chicago Rehab Network (CRN) Graduates Claretian Associates congratulates Real Estate Project Manager, Shawn Walker and Corridor Manager, Paul Panciera, for recently graduating from the CRN Community Empowerment Workshop Series. The program consists of eight workshops over the course of 6 months where participants learn to be leaders in improving the quality of life in their community. Learn more about the workshop series here. Local Community Violence Intervention (CVI) Hero Award
CP4P Program Manager James Sims received the Local Community Violence Intervention (CVI) Hero Award from Trajectory Changing Solutions (TCS). TCS’s event, Impact Celebration: Toast to Change, included a ribbon cutting of the new TCS Innovation Center and recognition of CVI leaders who are making a difference in their communities. James has worked in the field of CVI for approximately 11 years. He was honored for his dedication for reducing violence in the community and his commitment to the team. Announcememnts Trauma-Informed Symposium The South Chicago Neighborhood Network and the University of Chicago Medicine will host the annual Trauma-Informed Symposium, Healing, Resilience, and Renewal Through Systems Change. The symposium will be a panel discussion at the SALUD Center from 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM. The discussion will cover how trauma has impacted the South Community as a whole. Register here. For more information contact Program Manager Tiarra Owens at [email protected]  Light in the Night The Light in the Night events will be on October 30th in the neighborhoods of South Shore, and South Deering. Each event will have food, music and books. We hope to see you there!  Fitness Center
If you have not joined the fitness center, take advantage of our memberships: Classic $14.99, Classic Plus One $25, and Classic Paid in Full $150. Our October special includes a 3-month membership for $39.99. If interested stop by the SALUD Fitness Center for a tour of the facility and all it has to offer. ProgramsSummer Youth Programming Concludes at the SALUD Center
The UNITY Squad summer programming concluded at the SALUD Center. Youth learned about financial literacy, critical thinking, civic engagement, workforce preparedness, and leadership development. This summer, the principal focus was youth empowerment. The team wanted to give the youth different experiences through community field trips. One of the trips was visiting Chicago State University and learned how to make a solar car. The youth also went to the Lincoln Park Conservatory to learn how to connect with nature and use it as a way to find calmness. Another trip was visiting the South Chicago Library. All of the youth signed up for library cards, checked out books, and were assigned a book report. The youth received a tour of the library and an informational lecture on their services. The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign came to the SALUD Center to present workshops on quantum physics. The youth received a demonstration on how to dissect a drone and add the opportunity to resemble it. Another activity was the Science Escape Lab, where youth decoded messages to find a cure for a virus. UNITY Squad also had guest speakers. Claretian Associates' very own CEO Angela Hurlock spoke to the youth about the organization's mission and services in South Chicago. The youth also received a digital literacy workshop from City Colleges of Chicago and learned about the importance of cybersecurity. Six youth were chosen to participate in a research group by the University of Chicago. The youth were interviewed about their experience with CPS schooling. For their final ceremonial event, the youth went bowling. They enjoyed eating in each other's company and playing in teams. At the Back-to-School and Wellness Event, the youth received their certificate of completion. “They did not want the program to end. They came in shy and didn’t want to talk to each other, but by the second week, they all became friends,” said Youth Development Program Manager David Todd. Hoops in the Hood
Claretian Associates, in partnership with LISC hosted Hoops in the Hood at the SALUD Center. Three times a week youth ages 11 – 17 trained, conditioned, and learned new basketball skills. The group participated in a basketball tournament at Ellis Park with other participating organizations. They learned about teamwork, patience, leadership skills and how to overcome adversity. This program is designed for communities affected by violence and provides a safe space for youth to play basketball for the summer. Back-to-School and Wellness Event
Claretian Associates, the South Chicago Neighborhood Network, Communities Partnering 4 Peace (CP4P), United Way of Metro Chicago, and other community partners hosted the annual Back-to-School and Wellness Event on August 8th at 91st and Brandon. About 350 community members attended. Over 500 book bags with school supplies were distributed for elementary school, high school, and college aged students. Senator Robert Peters and 10th Ward Alderman Chico were present and showed their support. To get students ready for school, vaccination clinics were available from the University of Chicago Medicine, and the Chicago Public Health Department. Advocate Health had 15 doctors who provided health screenings for blood pressure and diabetes. Attendees were able to have one-on-one consultations with doctors. Students also received haircuts sponsored by the Special Service Area #5. The event had 37 vendors that provided resources on health, mental health, housing, education, and more. This year the event had entertainment by the Jesse White Tumblers. The performance was such an attraction getter that cars stopped to watch them. After the Tumblers performed, they engaged with the community and received great feedback. For many, it was their first time seeing them perform. The event also had music by a DJ that provided Karaoke and dancing. Community members also enjoyed food from local food vendors. This is the 5th year the Back-to-School and Wellness event has been held to help the community prepare for the school year and stay informed of community resources. “I want to make sure that we are always creating opportunities for what is available in our community,” said Program Manager Tiarra Owens. In the future, Tiarra wants to provide school uniforms and more resources to start the school year.  Safe Passage Safe Passage returns as classes resume for Chicago Public Schools. Community Watchers are an important asset as they ensure a safe path for students to school and home. Claretian Associates covers Burnham Mathematics & Science Academy, James H. Bowen, George Henry Corliss, Myra Bradwell, Douglas Taylor, Arnold Mireles, and Ninos Heroes. WE are Building Getting to Home Claretian Associates plans to develop 14 single family homes on vacant lots under the City of Chicago's City Lots for Working Families program. Under this program, the city sells vacant lots to a developer for $1 to build affordable homes for first time homebuyers. These lots are in the 8000, 8900, and 9100 blocks of S Buffalo Ave. The application for these lots was approved and passed through the City council last month. Claretian is currently in the process of closing on the lots and securing financing to begin development. Staff Highlights James Sims Local Community Violence Intervention (CVI) Hero CP4P Program Manager James will be awarded the Local CVI Hero Award. This award acknowledges dedicated individuals who work to create safer environments thought a variety of community-centered approaches. James has worked in the CVI field for approximately 11 years. His work began as a violence interrupter, later was promoted to a supervisor, program coordinator, and to his current position as program manager. At the Claretian CP4P office, staff awards are placed on the wall and now he will place his as well. “Somebody finally gave me an award that I can put on the wall to show gratitude that my work did not go unnoticed,” said James. His leadership and commitment are helping to shape the field of violence prevention in the South Chicago community. Announcements South Chicago Housing Resource Event Join Claretian Associates, Fifth Third Bank, and other partners for a housing resource event at 91st and Brandon, on Wednesday, September 17th starting at 4:00 PM until 7:00 PM. Learn about housing services and banking resources in South Chicago. Attendees will have the opportunity to access the Fifth Third Bank Financial Empowerment Mobile. For more information contact Paul Panciera at 773 734 9181 ext. 2036.  Communities Partnering 4 Peace The next series of Light in the Night events will be on September 17th, 20th, and 26th in the neighborhoods of South Chicago, South Shore, and South Deering. Each event will have food and clothing distributions.  Fitness Center
If you have not joined the fitness center, take advantage of our affordable memberships: Classic $14.99, Classic Plus One $25, and Classic Paid in Full $150. As a member, you can take advantage of our free “Get Fit Class” every Wednesday and Thursday at 10:30 AM. For the month of September, members can bring a friend to exercise and will win a prize for bringing in the most friends. |
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