Meet our Community Health team that's creating long-lasting change in the lives of members of our community. Learn more about our Community Health team. Community Health Staff Filiberto Rios (He/Him/His) Division Director Read More Myra Rodriguez (She/Her/Hers) Community Health Supervisor Read More Related Content Mental Health First Aid Learn More Health Education Learn More Food Pantry Learn More HIV Testing Learn More

Meet our High School staff that's creating long-lasting change in the lives of our students. Learn more about our High School team. High School Staff Mr. David Pieper (He/Him/His) Principal Read More Ms. Gabriela Arriaga (She/Her/Hers) Registrar Read More Ms. Amiracle Harris (She/Her/Hers) Substitute LB1 Teacher - Diverse Learner's Department Read More Ms. Martha Aguirre-Miranda (She/Her/Hers) FLP Aide Read More Mr. Santiago Duran (He/Him/His) School-Based Counselor Read More Mrs. Terra Metz (She/Her/Hers) Math Teacher Read More Ms. Danielle Saguiped (She/Her/Hers) WIOA/YES Mentor Read More Ms. Michelle Greene (She/Her/Hers) FLP Supervisor Read More Mrs. Tiana Thomas (She/Her/Hers) Assistant Principal Read More Ms. Sabrina Benchaabane (She/Her/Hers) Substitute Teacher - Psychology & Science Read More Mr. Matthew Noack (He/Him/His) Social Studies Teacher Read More Mr. Ernesto Bautista (He/Him/His) After School Instructor Read More Ms. Kendra Hogan (She/Her/Hers) Post Secondary Mentor Read More Ms. Lucy Myerscough (She/Her/Hers) English Teacher Read More Ms. Janely Salgado (She/Her/Hers) RSP Mentor & Aventa Lab Coordinator Read More Ms. Myriah Pair (She/Her/Hers) LBS Read More Ms. Jemina Lyle (She/Her/Hers) School Culture & Climate Coordinator, YS3 Mentor, STLS Liaison, Student Advisor Read More Ms. Demia Fisher (She/Her/Hers) Culinary and Health Instructor Read More Mr. Maurice Render (He/Him/His) Dean of Students Read More Ms. Sonia Bernate (She/Her/Hers) FLP Aide Read More Ms. LaKim Lockett (She/Her/Hers) YMP Mentor & Aventa Lab Coordinator Read More Mrs. Maribel Ortega-Vazquez (She/Her/Ella) Compass Mentor, Academic Advisor & Department of Student Support Services Coordinator Read More Ms. July Bayasgalan (She/Her/Hers) Social Worker Read More Ms. Maria Roman (She/Her/Hers) Receptionist, Attendance Clerk Read More Related Content Curriculum Learn More Mentoring Learn More Family Literacy Program Learn More After School Programs Learn More

Explore the leadership team that's creating long-lasting change throughout our communities in Chicago. Learn more about the Association House leadership team. Executive Staff Juan Carlos Linares President and CEO Learn More Lillian Bui Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives Learn More Rosa Y. Ortiz Senior Director of Community Development Learn More David Pieper High School Principal Learn More Jacqleen Musarra Vice President of Operations Learn More Jaime Garcia Senior Director of Human Resources Learn More Damaris Acevedo Director of Child Welfare Learn More Filiberto Rios Senior Director of Community Health and Workforce Development Learn More Julie Rodriguez Executive Vice President Learn More Margarita Rosas Chief Financial Officer Learn More Emily Marion Senior Director of Behavioral Health Learn More Tanya A. Wade Senior Director of Clinical Operations Learn More Auxiliary Board Board of Directors

Students of our Behavioral Health Pre-Apprenticeship got an inside look at careers in substance use recovery, peer mentorship, mobile crisis response, and more. This year, Association House partnered with Cook County Health to create and pilot a new Behavioral Health Pre-Apprenticeship, helping make careers in behavioral health more accessible to people across Chicago. The pilot was created in response to a growing need for behavioral health workers—and a need to connect more people with career paths they may never have encountered before. For people interested in helping others, the field offers many opportunities, from substance use recovery and peer support to case management and mobile crisis response. But without a chance to learn what those jobs actually involve, knowing where to begin can be a challenge. The Behavioral Health Pre-Apprenticeship was designed to help bridge that gap. Over five weeks, participants got a broad look at the behavioral health field. They learned about mental health and trauma, built practical workplace skills, earned Adult and Youth Mental Health First Aid certifications, and gained firsthand experience with behavioral health programs and careers. Association House was uniquely suited to offer that big-picture view. Our building is home to a wide range of behavioral health services, allowing participants to see several sides of the field in one place. Through our partnerships with organizations including Family Guidance Center and UCAN, we also created opportunities for participants to explore careers and services beyond Association House. Behavioral Health Director Tanya Wade (right) helped design and instruct the pre-apprenticeship for these grads! “We really wanted participants to know what it looks like to be in behavioral health systems in any capacity,” says Tanya Wade, Director of Association House’s Clinical Operations. “Wherever we couldn't show it in our building, we developed partnerships that could provide hands-on experiences and potential paths to employment.” Rather than preparing participants for just one type of job, the Pre-Apprenticeship gave them the chance to discover where their interests and strengths might fit. “What we heard over and over again was how much this program really helped our participants understand empathy, their mental health and trauma,” Tanya says. Participants were able to connect what they learned—and what they had experienced in their own lives—to possible career paths. Across its first year, the Behavioral Health Pre-Apprenticeship graduated nearly 50 participants, earning certifications and gaining a clearer understanding of the career paths available to them. Several graduates went on to secure jobs in behavioral health or advance in their existing careers after completing the program and earning their certifications. For Clark, the pre-apprenticeship led directly to a new career. When Clark began looking for work after college, he had never heard of behavioral health. After meeting Association House staff at a local job fair, he learned about the Pre-Apprenticeship and enrolled. The program introduced him to peer support, a field that quickly caught his interest. “The class was always exciting to go through,” Clark says. “Ms. Shawny and Ms. Tanya always brought so much good energy into the class.” He especially valued learning skills such as active listening and setting boundaries—skills he says he can use both at work and in everyday life. Our second graduating cohort of the Behavioral Health Pre-Apprenticeship discovered new career paths together. While enrolled in the Pre-Apprenticeship, Clark was connected with Family Guidance Center through Association House. That connection led directly to his first job in behavioral health, where he now works as a Support Specialist in peer support. “I didn't have any background in this field at all, but I got a job through the connection with Association House,” Clark says. Clark’s story shows what can happen when people are given access to opportunities they may never have encountered on their own. He entered the program without knowing behavioral health was a career option. He left with a better understanding of the field, new skills, professional connections and a job in a career he enjoys. That is the larger promise of the Behavioral Health Pre-Apprenticeship: putting education, experience and career connections into the hands of people who may not otherwise have a way into the field. By helping participants understand the work before choosing a path, the program can make behavioral health careers feel more visible—and more attainable—to a wider range of people. For Clark, the advice is simple for anyone considering that first step: “Go in with an open-hearted and open mind, ready to learn something.” As Association House reflects on the first year of the pilot, the experience has shown the value of creating new ways for community members to discover their potential—and for Chicago’s behavioral health workforce to welcome new talent, perspectives and lived experiences. ■

LUCHA is entering an exciting new chapter! As we build on our long history of community-rooted work, we are looking ahead to new opportunities to strengthen neighborhoods, expand housing stability, and build a more equitable Chicago.  With this vision in mind, we are thrilled to welcome Rosa Y. Ortiz, AICP, LEED AP, MUPP, as LUCHA’s new Co-Executive Director. Bringing more than 25 years of experience in urban planning, architecture, real estate development, housing, and community engagement, Rosa is well-positioned to guide LUCHA into this exciting next chapter. "Rosa is a highly-collaborative leader with a strong track record of projects deeply rooted in community. We are thrilled to welcome her to LUCHA." -Lillian Bui, Co-Executive Director of LUCHA Born in Mexico City and a Chicago resident for more than 40 years, Rosa brings a bilingual and bicultural perspective to her work, along with a deep appreciation for the histories, identities, and assets that make Chicago’s neighborhoods unique. Trained as both an architect and urban planner, she has built her career around creating more equitable, connected communities and strengthening the cultural, historic, and social fabric of neighborhoods. As the Founder and Principal of 3e.Studio, Rosa has led complex, community-centered initiatives engaging thousands of residents and has developed three neighborhood-wide Quality of Life Plans focused on issues including affordable housing, environmental sustainability, public safety, arts and education, parks, and economic development. She is a longtime member of the Board of Directors of the Chicago Transit Authority, where she works to advance initiatives connecting transit, jobs, and housing across Chicago and the region; and was recently appointed to new board positions with PACE and NITA. Rosa’s career has also included senior leadership roles with the City of Chicago Department of Housing, Enterprise Community Partners, Inc., the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, and the Hispanic Housing Development Corporation. As Rosa joins LUCHA’s leadership team, we are excited for the next chapter and grateful to everyone who continues to make our work possible. ■

Last year, Mary celebrated 7 years on the Association House staff. While working with us, she became a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. The best investment we can make in our community is investing in the people who serve it. Every year, Association House staff participate in professional development opportunities that help them sharpen their skills, deepen their expertise and grow as leaders. This year, that commitment led to some remarkable milestones, from advanced clinical licenses to specialized counseling certifications that are already making an impact for participants. For Behavioral Health Supervisor Mary, professional development has been part of a much longer journey—one that began long before she joined the staff. A participant at Association House before becoming an employee nearly nine years ago, Mary continued pursuing higher education while working full time. She earned her associate's degree, bachelor's degree and master's degree in social work before completing nearly two years of clinical supervision and passing the Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) exam on her very first attempt. Mary is one of the most familiar faces at the House. Maintaining a 4.0 GPA throughout graduate school wasn't easy, but Mary says one advantage was already having years of real-world experience working with participants. "I was already doing the work," she said. "I had the experiential knowledge, I had the practical employment knowledge, and then I got the educational knowledge." Today, Mary's LCSW allows her to practice independently, review and approve clinical documentation, and begin building a private therapy practice alongside her work at Association House. But even with those new responsibilities, she continues seeking supervision and learning from colleagues—a reflection of the growth mindset that's guided her career from the very beginning. Her story has come full circle. After first walking through Association House's doors as a participant, she now helps lead the very kind of care that once supported her own recovery—proof that investing in staff growth doesn't just strengthen careers; it creates leaders who understand firsthand the impact compassionate services can have. That same commitment to growth and service inspired Visions Coordinator and Counselor Lawrence to pursue his Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC) credential this year. Lawrence brings something especially meaningful to his role: lived experience. Now nearly two decades into his own recovery journey, he knows firsthand the courage it takes for participants to walk through the doors of the Visions Substance Use Disorder Program. "Eighteen years ago, I made a conscious decision to say, 'In order for me to change my life, I have to change the way I think,'" Lawrence said. Lawrence is a source of inspiration for the substance use recovery participants he serves. Recovery transformed the course of his life. After becoming active in the recovery community and volunteering for four years at Association House, he eventually joined the organization as a staff member. Today, he helps participants navigate substance use treatment through a harm reduction approach rooted in empathy rather than judgment. Earning his CADC strengthened the work he was already passionate about, giving him another tool to support participants as they work toward recovery. But for Lawrence, credentials have never been the ultimate goal. "I don't want to be part of a system that just shuffles people through because of paperwork," he said. "I need to be able to make a difference, but I need to also see the difference that I'm making." Those moments come in many forms: a participant rebuilding relationships with family, maintaining sobriety, finding stable housing, or simply beginning to believe that a different future is possible. "When you see the gleam in their eyes, when you hear the sincerity in their voice, that's when you know something has changed," Lawrence said. Having broken a multigenerational cycle of addiction in his own family, Lawrence understands that every participant's success has a ripple effect far beyond the individual. "There is life within recovery," he said. Like Lawrence, Behavioral Health Counselor Jacqueline earned her CADC while serving participants in the Visions program, where she combines clinical expertise with a deeply person-centered approach to care. Although Jacqueline had long planned to become a therapist, substance use counseling wasn't originally the path she expected to take. While in graduate school, she entered the field through a specialized program and quickly realized she'd found her calling. "I almost fell into it, but ended up being really passionate about that specialization," she said. "I realized I have a lot of personal experience with it, and it's a lot more prevalent than people even realize. I think it's important to bring awareness to it." Jacqueline leads group substance use counseling in our Visions program. While studying for the CADC exam, Jacqueline was simultaneously putting those lessons into practice with Visions participants every day—a combination she says made both her work and her certification stronger. Today, her master's degree in counseling psychology and CADC credential allow her to approach participants from both a mental health and substance use perspective. She says those two disciplines are inseparable. "It's not one or the other—they work together," Jacqueline said. "Having both perspectives allows me to view each person more holistically." That philosophy shapes everything from the groups she facilitates to one-on-one counseling sessions. One lesson has stayed with her throughout her education: "Focusing on the person and meeting them where they're at," rather than trying to "fix" someone or decide what recovery should look like for them. Working at Association House, she says, makes that person-centered approach even stronger. "I think that's the best thing," Jacqueline said of the organization's holistic services. "People are able to explore resources for jobs, housing and continuing mental health care. It's a holistic program versus just focusing on substance use." Mary and other members of the Behavioral Health team celebrating at least 5 years of service with the House. Whether it's achieving independent clinical licensure after years of dedication or earning specialized counseling credentials that deepen their impact with participants, each of these accomplishments reflects something bigger than individual milestones. Professional development at Association House isn't just about checking a box or adding credentials after a name. It's about strengthening the people who strengthen our communities. Every certification earned, every new skill developed and every new perspective gained ultimately comes back to the participants who walk through our doors looking for opportunity, support and hope. ▪