The Fourth Quarter Century: 1975 - 2000

Programs

The Summer Cart Project, now called Caravan a de Verano, continued through the 1970s, offering sports and recreation to children in their own neighborhoods. The project truly expanded the Association House family. The outreach also saw an increase in children and teen enrollment at Association House.

By 1980, programs included Youth Employment Services, Life Development Strategies for Teens, an alternative High School, a Computer Operations Training Program, the Young Mothers Project and a Health Careers Center. The Senior Outreach Program offered senior and staff companionship to a primarily Polish population. Association House homes included La Casita, The Place, The Sanchez Home and a Supportive Living Arrangement (SLA). The after school program and summer day camp flourished. A new playground was built at 2150 West North Avenue with the support of the Polk Bros. Foundation and the I Have a Dream Program. Nearly 50 teenagers participated in its construction and installation.

Board and Staff Involvement

An extensive outreach began for new Board Members, who would bring commitment and dedication to the agency. After Open Houses and other recruitment events, nearly a dozen new Board Members joined Association House by 1979. Responsibilities included expanding resources, as well as assessing programs and governing the agency. The agency Board functioned independently from the Presbyterian Board by the 1980s.

Staff and Participants

Association House expanded from less than 30 staff members in the 1960s to more than 200 by the 1990s. Staff continued to bring the spirit and sense of family, which had dominated the early years. Even a small gathering on the roof of 2150 W. North Avenue symbolized a tradition began by the early staff of working and celebrating life together. By 1990, the community was 61% Latino, and the more than 85% of the staff was bilingual in English and Spanish. By 1999, more than 20,000 families and individuals were enrolled at Association House.

Arts Programming

A highly successful Community Arts Program was initiated in the 1990s. Events such as the Puppet Parade, the Anxious Voices (Voces Ansiosas) Summer Teen Production and special theatrical performances by participants enrolled in the Developmentally Disabled Training program became annual traditions.

The Centennial Celebration

By 1990 the Board and staff began thinking about the upcoming 100th anniversary of Association House with plans to expand fund raising efforts and heighten the organization's visibility.

By the end of the decade, support from foundations, corporations, churches and individuals had doubled. In addition, Association House had received extensive media coverage from the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times and local neighborhood newspapers, as well as local affiliates of CBS, NBC, ABC WGN, Channel 66 and 44, and numerous radio talk shows.

The Annual Board Benefit, Salsa in the City, celebrated its fifth anniversary in 1995. In addition to raising more than $100,000, it brings nearly 400 friends of Association House to the east lawn of 2150 West North Avenue each summer.

The official Centennial Celebration began in January 1999. Highlights of the year-long festivities included a winter kick-off event held in historic Carrie Wilson Hall, continued with an Old Fashion Ice Cream Social, and an elegant Centennial Gala at the Chicago Historical Society. The Chicago Community Trust and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation were two of the major sponsors of the celebration.

A New Property Is Acquired

As the first century of Association House drew to a close, perhaps one of the most significant events of the era took place with the acquisition of additional property at 1116 North Kedzie. The building was purchased through a bond financing package brought about by leadership of Executive Director, Harriet Sadauskas, Board President Chair Hugo Rodriguez and a dedicated Board of Directors. The new building provided for much needed space to consolidate growing programs that had occupied more costly rental facilities.