Communities

Auburn Gresham
Chicago Lawn
Douglas, Grand Blvd. and
   North Kenwood-Oakland
East Garfield
Englewood
Humboldt Park
Little Village
   (South Lawndale)
Logan Square
North Lawndale
Pilsen (Lower West Side)
South Chicago
Washington Park
West Haven
   (Near West Side)
Woodlawn

The New Communities Program is supported by a major grant from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.

Visit our community development blog, Community Beat.

Past events

April 19

The Family-to-Family Education Program in Spanish
10 am–2 pm
National Alliance for the Mentally Ill of Greater Chicago
1536 W. Chicago Ave.

This six-week course designed for family members of individuals with mental illness focuses on schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depression, OCD, anxiety disorders, borderline personality disorder, and co-occurring addictions.

The emphasis is on the clinical treatment of these illnesses and the knowledge and skills family members will need when faced with such problems.

There is no fee for the course. Please call Abra Kinkopf at (312) 563-0445 to enroll. For more information, please download a flyer in English or Spanish.

May 1

Family Fun Centennial Activities
Garfield Park Conservatory
300 N. Central Park Ave.

Did you know that Chicago's botanical gem under glass, the Garfield Park Conservatory, has been home to rare tropical plants for almost 100 years? The Conservatory opened to the public in April 1908.

During the Centennial celebration, the Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance is offering a number of fexciting programming events that will enhance the family-oriented visitor's experience of both history and horticulture.

May 5

Fine Arts for Tots
times am–vary pm
St. Luke's Lutheran Church
2649 N. Francisco Ave.

St. Luke's Lutheran Church of Logan Square and Voice of the City are collaborating to offer "Fine Arts for Tots," a brand newbilingual music and arts program for children from birth to age five!

Fine Arts for Tots is conducted through a partnership between Voice of the City , an arts alliance that has been offering fine arts programming, education and performance in Logan Square since 2001, and St. Luke's Lutheran Church , which has been serving residents of Logan Square for over 100 years.

Fine Arts for Tots is our first official bilingual program, aiming to have classes made up of equal numbers of Spanish- and English-speaking families.

For more information including class dates and times, please click here .

May 8

Courses for Non-Profits
9 am–5 pm
Center for the Professional Development of Non-Profit Organizations
3500 W. Peterson Ave., Suite 300

The center is holding several courses in April and May that could be of interest to non-profits. For more information, please contact Ana Bedard at (773) 907-6357 or abedard@ccc.edu.

May 8: Business Writing for Non-Profits
May 21: Basics of Supervision

Volunteerism: Soaring to New Heights
Chicago Marriott Oak Brook

The 2008 ICOVA conference offers a variety of opportunities for experienced and new volunteer administrators to launch into. The conference offers wonderful opportunities to network with colleagues in the field energize your spirit and rekindle your desires for your profession.

For more information or to register, please click here .

May 9

Chicagoland Bicycle Federation scholarship deadline

Young "movers and shakers" can apply for one of 200 scholarships from the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation to ride for free in the Bank of America Bike the Drive event on May 25.

Youths do not need to have experience with bicycles, only the drive to make Chicagoland a better place to live, work and travel. Youths can apply individually or as a group of at least 10. Every member will receive free registration to bike in the 2008 Bank of America Bike.

To apply, groups must submit by May 9 a one-page letter explaining why they deserve the scholarship and how they can/want to become active in the Chicagoland bicycle community. Scholarship winners will also receive recognition on the day of Bank of America Bike the Drive.

Contact Rebekah Broussard at rebekah@biketraffic.org or 312-427-3325, ext. 241 to apply or for more information.

May 10

Dance Connections
9 am–1:30 pm
Perspectives Charter School - Calumet campus
8131 S. May

Students from five Urban Gateway community schools will perform social dances from around the world. Admission is free and refreshments will be provided.

May 11

Conserve-A-Story Exhibit
9 am–5 pm
Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance
300 N. Central Park Ave.

"Conserve-A-Story: A Collaborative Exhibition Celebrating A Neighborhood's Unwritten History" will unveil some of the untold stories of the surrounding area through the eyes of those who have lived here.

This exhibition is a collaborative community project, in which residents showcase neighborhood history through a collection of narratives and portraits. Stories are told using autobiographical objects, audio interviews, photographs and recipes.

The free event runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily and until 8 p.m. on Thursdays.

For more information, please contact Rachel Moore at (773) 252-5618 or rmoore@saic.edu

May 13

The Power of Connections - Creating Links That Count for Nonprofit Organizations
Axelson Center for Nonprofit Management
North Park University
3225 W. Foster Ave.

The ninth annual Axelson Center Symposium will give you the chance to understand and harness the vital power of interconnectivity in building strong, resilient organizations.

Symposium 2008 will focus on the art of developing powerful connections, the high-value and personal links that strengthen individuals, organizations and the community.

For more information, please contact Tracey Starkovich at (773) 244-5799 or tstarkovich@northpark.edu, or see http://www.northpark.edu/home/index.cfm?NorthPark=Axelson_Symposium.ASym_Main

Speaker Series on Youth Services
2 pm–5 pm
Mercy Home for Boys and Girls
1140 W. Jackson Blvd.

Mercy Home for Boys and Girls hosts an annual speaker series to share knowledge and research that will help increase the type and quality of services offered to youth and their families. The workshops are free and offer continuing education units.

The May 13 lecture will cover "Strategies for the Prevention of Youth Violence in Chicago Public Schools." For a full schedule and information on how to sign up, please see http://www.mercyhome.org/speakerseries

May 14

Healthy Chicago Lawn Lunch and Learn
11 am–1 pm
Holy Cross Hospital
2701 W. 68th St.

The next Lunch and Learn session with Healthy Chicago Lawn will focus on mental health and youth -- who to call in a crisis, resources for youth with mental health issues, and funding the system.

The goal for these sessions is to provide a space for networking and learning among front-line health care and social service providers to encourage collaboration and ease of referrals.

May 15

CHA Section 8 application deadline

The waiting list for the Chicago Housing Authority's Section 8 voucher program is open for the first time in more than a decade.

Those eligible range from incomes below $26,400 for a single person to $37,700 for a family of four. A lottery will determine the 40,000 applicants who will win a spot on the list after the application period ends on May 15.

The application is free and can be filled out at 320 sites across Chicago, including all libraries, Park District fieldhouses, City Colleges of Chicago, aldermanic offices, and city and state human services offices.

National Latino Education Institute 2008 Career Expo
9 am–1 pm
2011 W. Pershing Road

The National Latino Education Institute presents its annual Career Expo, featuring dozens of employers seeking qualified candidates.

Event seminars include: Resume Review, Art of Interviewing, Dynamic Networking, and Electonic Job Search.

Must be 18 years and older to attend, professional attire and multiple resumes required. Register online at www.scj-usa.org , or call 773-247-0707, x218.

May 16

Free KaBOOM! Training
Marriott Chicago at Medical District/UIC
625 S. Ashland Ave.

KaBOOM! is hosting a free regional playground training called WE Play! The session will provide guidance on how to build a playground in a day with volunteers from your community, research to build your case for play, proven fund raising techniques and planning strategies, ways to engage the community, and the opportunity to meet other local and national activists.

If you have any questions, please contact Tiffiney Carney, KaBOOM! Manager, Training & Education, at (202) 464-6071. Sign up today at www.kaboom.org/weplay. To download a flyer, please see http://www.kaboom.org/Portals/0/WEPlay/WEPlay_Chicago.pdf

Beyond Showerheads and Sprinklers: Water Governance Solutions for Illinois
8 am–3:30 pm
Union League Club of Chicago
65 W. Jackson Blvd.

This symposium will focus on how to build a statewide framework for regional supply planning to protect our water resources. Co-sponsored by the Metropolitan Planning Council, Openlands Institute and Paul Simon Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University.

A registration fee of $50 covers food and beverages. For more information, contact Josh Ellis at MPC, (312) 863-6045 or jellis@metroplanning.org; or Lenore Beyer-Clow, Openlands at (312) 863-6264 or lbeyer-clow@openlands.org; or please click here.

May 20

New Americans Initiative volunteer training
4 pm–6 pm
The Resurrection Project
1818 S. Paulina

Being a New Americans Initiative Volunteer is an excellent opportunity to get involved in your community. As a NAI volunteer your aim is to inform and help legal permanent residents on acquiring citizenship status.

Through our NAI training session you will learn on the requirements for filing for citizenship and how to assist with the application. The NAI Citizenship Workshop seeks to help those beginning their path to citizenship - ultimately empowering the immigrant community!

NAI's volunteer training will be hosted by The Resurrection Project at our 1818 South Paulina offices on the following dates:

Tuesday, March 18th from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Tuesday, May 20th from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

To join us, or for more information, contact Israel Vargas at (312) 850-1935 x107.

Logan Square Neighborhood Association's 46th Annual Congress
6 pm–8 pm
McAuliffe Elementary School
1841 N. Springfield

 

May 22

Preparate: Educating Latinos for the Future of America
Hyatt Regency
McCormick Place

Join leaders from across the world of education for two days of networking and learning in Chicago. Participants will gain new best practices, methods for changing educational policies, and tips for remaining motivated.

For more information, please see www.collegeboard.com/preparate

May 27

Financial Empowerment Classes
6 pm–7 pm
SOS Children's Village
7600 S. Parnell

Greater Auburn Gresham Development Corp. and The Banking Consortium Team present Financial Empowerment Classes 2008.

All classes will be held at SOS Children's Village, and all are free -- dinner included. To register, please call (773) 483-3696.

May 27 – Identity Theft- ABC Bank

June 24 - Paying Bills: “Checking Account vs. Currency Exchange” – Citibank

July 22 – How to Improve Your Credit Score – Chase Bank

August 26 – Don’t Lose Your Money – Plan Ahead – Fifth Third Bank

September 23 - Protecting Your Housing Investment – NHS

October 28– How to Start Your Own Business – Beloved Community/Wamu Bank

May 30

Women's Wellness & Resource Fair
10 am–2 pm
Kosciuszko Park
2732 N. Avers Ave.

This event features free health screenings (blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol); chances to set up mammogram appointments and other referrals; information on AllKids, FamilyCare and Moms & Babies Health Insurance; city, state and county social services; haircuts, makeovers and massages; voter registration; and giveaways, prizes and more.

For more information, please call (773) 235-3939.

May 31

10th Ward Green Summit
9 am–2 pm
Villa Guadalupe Senior Residence
3201 E. 91st St.

Come hear tips on greening your home, take a bus tour of area "green" housing and recreation/stewardship, and much more. This day begins at Villa Guadalupe and is sponsored by NCP lead agency Claretian Associates, the Calumet Stewardship Initiative, and other organizations.

For more details, please call Angela Hurlock at Claretian Associates, (773) 734-9181, or see (773) 734-9181.

June 1

Bronzeville Community Market
10 am–3 pm
44th and Cottage Grove

NCP lead agency Quad Communities Development Corporation, in cooperation with the Mayor's Office of Special Events, will host a weekly Bronzeville Community Market every Sunday. The market will offer fresh produce, yummy food, activities, and more!

For more information, contact Zuri at qcdcinfo@gmail.com .

June 11

Making Media Connections
Columbia College Chicago
1104 S. Wabash, 8th Floor

National experts in nonprofit communications will present at this conference organized by Community Media Workshop.

Join community leaders, nonprofit communicators and board members, mainstream and independent journalists, publishers, media experts and the general public to discuss getting our communities’ important stories told.

Come ready to sharpen your media relations and communications skills at workshops and panel discussions lead by the nation’s top media relations experts. You’ll meet journalists interested in your stories and network with peers.

For more information, please see www.communitymediaworkshop.org/mmc2008/

New Communities Program

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