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For 16 years, we've provided students of Association House High School with free onsite child care through our Family Literacy Program. It's impossible to overstate the impact of this program on the parents in our building, who are given the chance to pursue their education knowing that their child has somewhere safe to learn and play. Now, in our 125th anniversary year, we're opening our doors to even more little learners. The Family Literacy Program is now available to trainees in our Workforce Development programs. Our Workforce Development division has seen huge growth over the past few years, opening new career paths for our participants all year round. To better support our Workforce students on their journey, we want to take the stress of child care off their plate. “It’s not just daycare,” says program director Michelle Greene. “We show parents how to be their child’s first teacher. We have parenting workshops, take visits to the library, and host Parent and Child Together (PACT) activities so parents have dedicated time to really bond with their kids.”  For students of our most intensive Workforce Training classes-- Financial Careers Training, Association House Kitchen, and Clean Energy Jobs Training-- children from 6 weeks to 5 years old are eligible to join our colorful playrooms and learn alongside our caring bilingual staff. And just like we've offered parent-child bonding time to our high schoolers, the doors are open to Workforce Training parents too. We're excited to provide a home away from home for our new Family Literacy Program kids: hosting holiday parties, playing music, reading, and napping every day away. -- Learn more about the Family Literacy Program at associationhouse.org/family-literacy-program . Interested in a Workforce Training program at Association House? Check out associationhouse.org/workforce-development .

In the summer of 2024, Cecilio took a leap of faith. While working late-night warehouse shifts, he knew he had more to offer the world, but wasn't sure of his true calling. When he stumbled on an ad for Association House's Culinary career training program, he was reminded of countless happy hours spent in his family kitchen. His father had always worked in restaurants, and had lifelong dreams of opening his own-- and his mother had a reputation for mouthwatering Mexican cuisine. "Growing up, my dad was really busy with work, and the little time I got with him was when he was cooking for us. He'd ask me to help out and teach me things. My dad's been working in kitchens for 25 years, and cooking is something that's always brought good memories to me-- so I thought, maybe I could be okay at this," Cecilio shared. Class kicked off in July, and Cecilio took to Chef Tenoch Ang's lessons right away. He learned proper knife skills, cuisine styles from around the world, and spent time with Workforce Training staff to design a resume he could be proud of. The schedule was tiring-- sometimes working 5 PM to 2 AM at his warehouse job, then waking up for class the next morning-- but this only motivated him to complete the program and dedicate himself to cooking full-time. "It honestly didn't feel like a class. It felt like a second home," says Cecilio. "Chef Tenoch was a very positive influence in my life. It was like learning to cook with my other dad-- I was learning from someone that I cared a lot for. Everybody wanted to be there, everyone tried their best every day." Two weeks before graduation, Cecilio felt confident enough in his skills to start applying for positions in kitchens around the city. Excited to put his all into the culinary field, he applied just about everywhere he could find. But to his surprise, he soon had more interview requests than he knew what to do with! Then, in the middle of all the chaos, Cecilio got a phone call that really shocked him. Just a week before graduation, 3-star Michelin restaurant Alinea reached out asking him to join them for two 12-hour practice shifts before inviting him on board officially. "I remember telling Chef Tenoch, and we couldn't believe it. It wasn't just an acknowledgement email-- they called me and ask me to stage. It was a commis chef position, which is entry level, but Alinea is a Michelin-starred restaurant and I had no real experience other than cooking at home and taking the class at Association House. The fact that they even considered me was such a surprise," Cecilio told us, still in a bit of disbelief. Despite all the excitement, Chef Tenoch advised Cecilio to accept all the luck he was having and wait to hear every offer. Soon enough, he received a personal text from Executive Chef Terence Zubieta at the Park Hyatt's luxe NoMI restaurant. They eventually offered him a Cook III position on their staff-- the first step on a very promising path. Now settling into his new role, Cecilio is feeling both humbled by the opportunity and excited at what his future holds. For anyone thinking about pursuing more education or changing career paths, he recommends the Association House Kitchen course wholeheartedly: "Just try. It doesn't hurt to try. It's free! I don't know how you could just scroll past something like this. There are such good people involved in this program who actually care, who want to push you to learn and be the best you can be. What's the worst outcome? Maybe you don't like it? That's it!? Give yourself the chance and start something new." -- Learn more about classes in the Association House Kitchen at associationhouse.org/kitchen .

Our annual Summer Soiree is a chance for young professionals across Chicago to connect and mobilize for change in their city. It's just one of the many volunteering and fundraising events hosted by our Auxiliary Board throughout the year, raising awareness for Association House's mission and making an immediate impact on our participants' lives. This year, we took over the beautiful patio at El Cid in Logan Square for a night of margaritas and music in the name of our cause. The main event was a group salsa dance lesson led by Lisa La Boriqua, but we also played games, made new friends, and spread the word about big things coming at the House! To end the night, we raffled off prize packages from our partners at Tito's, Douglas J. Aveda Institute, the Logan Theatre and more. Our professional community showed up for Association House in a big way at this year's Summer Soiree. Together, we raised nearly $7,000 to directly benefit programs around the House! The Auxiliary Board's continued commitment is a vital part of our mission, and we're always looking for new members! You'll become part of a network of changemakers, organizing events to keep our programs and participants thriving, and having fun while you do it! Our annual trivia night, marathon run club, and holiday toy drive make giving back feel like a celebration. If you're passionate about making Chicago equitable for all, become an advocate for our work by joining the Aux Board! Learn more below, or get in touch with our Donor Experience Manager Drew Williams at dwilliams@associationhouse.org . ---

When Casey joined Association House's NextJob program, he had not imagined he would wind up working for the House itself-- but his confidence and eagerness to learn caught the attention of our workforce training staff. Just a few months after graduating with his NextJob cohort, he joined our team in the Technology Center, instructing our Digital Skills 4 Life course on computer basics! Casey came to Association House after a frustrating job search that left him searching for skills that were more in-demand. As he bonded with the rest of his cohort and instructors, he found himself drawn to Association House and its mission. " Through the class, I learned the atmosphere and energy here, so as soon as I saw that a position was available I knew I'd love the work. And I do! I've been pinching myself since I started working here in September, " Casey says. Before Association House, Casey graduated with an MBA in Theater from the University of Louisville, moving on to teach at charter schools in Chicago. Despite pursuing his passion for teaching high school students, he found himself looking for something different. Now, as Digital Navigator in our Tech#Ready program, he enjoys working with adult learners. " Sometimes, when you're younger, that's not the time that you want to listen and focus. This job offered me the opportunity to engage with people who are actively seeking and hungry to learn ," Casey shared. "Being able to take the class was a huge advantage for me, and now I feel like I can give back." Casey's talent for teaching shows in his unique approach to tech education at Association House, making room for students of all skill levels. Although technology is a big part of many of our lives, access to it is still far from equal , and Casey is determined to make his classes personal for each student-- hopefully to boost their ability to work in computer-heavy spaces. " A lot of people have used computers and smartphones, but in each of my classes, a few people have been completely terrified of technology-- scared to even touch the mouse!" Casey explained. "And I don't think it's totally unreasonable to be a little afraid! But without technology skills, you're locked out of a huge part of our world. I want my class to give people real skills they can take with them-- not just interviewing or networking skills, but putting them in a better mindset for the job search." Now a few months into his time at the House, Casey is preparing to take on a new challenge: leading our Google AI Essentials class , the newest in our Tech#Ready lineup. The class will teach students how to harness artificial intelligence tools to cut back on repetitive computer tasks and take back their valuable time. Casey is excited to keep our participants on the cutting edge. When he's not at the House leading our tech students to success, you can find Casey at theaters around the city like the Steppenwolf or the Improv Olympic-- but he's looking forward to spending more time with us. "With this new class, I'll be teaching 2 classes every other day. I hate not being at work-- I hate not having a reason to be. This work is so rewarding. I'm doing my best to eat a whale one bite at a time-- and I like whales! " he says with a smile. -- Want to join our amazing staff of changemakers? Visit our Careers page at associationhouse.org/careers .

Technology and the Internet fill our daily lives in so many ways that it's hard to imagine our world without it. But did you know that in 2022, 26% of low-income families had no at-home Internet subscription at all? Libraries and community centers around the country have worked hard to fill these gaps in access, but there's no way to overstate the advantages of Internet at home. That's why the National Digital Inclusion Alliance started Digital Inclusion Week. This year, from Oct 7-11, the NDIA and its partners are working to raise awareness and make digital skills more equitable across the country. At Association House, we offer tech training classes throughout the year. In our beginner course, Digital Skills 4 Life, we give participants an in-depth course on how to navigate their personal smartphones, Google Suite, and how to safely browse the web. Beyond the basics, we offer a Microsoft Office Specialist course to certify participants as experts in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and more. Providing this service to the public in Chicago creates a huge impact, and when we asked our past students if they'd be interested in sharing their stories from the class, so many were excited to tell us about how it transformed their lives. One of those students was Marlene Taylor, who joined our Digital Skills 4 Life course after her retirement, suddenly finding herself as the trusted family matriarch. "When you retire, they think you're supposed to do everything for them! You know how that goes," she told us with a laugh. After seeing our Tech#Ready classes advertised on Facebook, she felt motivated to boost her knowledge to help herself and her loved ones-- especially after younger people in her life were caught in online scams. "A former secretary of mine in her early fifties had a friend ask her for money online, but it turned out that it wasn't her friend! She only called her friend to double check after she'd talked to me, and I told her that she needed to make sure. After that, she shut down all her social media," says Marlene. " Seniors need this class, because so many of them are so afraid. " Since completing the course, Marlene says she's protected herself and her family against plenty of phishing emails from scammers pretending to be reputable companies or trusted friends. Now that she's so comfortable with the basics, she's excited about trying new things. Her niece has since introduced her to AI writing tools that she says she would not have had the confidence to try before. Another student, Shweta Jain, came to Association House with a Master's Degree in English from her home country of India, but found herself needing to start over with new skills in the States. After seeing information about our Tech#Ready courses at our Back 2 School Fair, she enrolled in the intermediate Microsoft Office course. However, balancing the class with raising her young son proved to be harder than she expected. "Our instructor, Hind, was extremely kind and supportive. I went to her and told her, 'I'm so sorry. I can't do this.' I started to cry, because it's very hard for me to say no," she told us. "But she encouraged me and gave me a lot of strength. In my mind, Excel was very tough, and I didn't believe I could do it. But with her help, it was very easy. She's one of the best teachers I've had in my life. My thanks are not enough." Before she knew it, the Excel class was over, and Shweta passed her Microsoft Office Specialist certification exam with a 100% score. Now, as she works to complete her new degree in Administration, she hopes to bring her skills and confidence to ESL and Early Childhood Education. "I use my new skills in so many of my classes, and even in my current workplace. I'm so happy that I met Hind and found a path for my future." Hearing these stories among countless others from our Tech#Ready program make us proud to be a leader for digital inclusion. During Digital Inclusion Week, the Association House of Chicago would like to recognize Comcast and UnidosUS for its longtime support of our Tech#Ready Program, which provides bilingual digital skill-building and workforce development training. Advancing digital equity is always on our minds as we work to encourage each person’s full participation in our increasingly connected world. -- Want to learn more about our technology programs? Visit associationhouse.org/tech-ready .

When McDonald's is in the building, we know we're going to get things done. Last week, 100 volunteers from the McDonald's Corporation joined us for a day of beautifying our building, connecting with participants, and celebrating our mission. All their hard work led to one of the most impactful days of the year, instantly transforming the lives of our participants for the better. Better still, the volunteer day lined up perfectly with the kickoff of Hispanic Heritage Month, adding an extra layer of fun and pride to our projects. Our volunteers divided and conquered all over the House. One team assembled our New Moms Room, a brand-new space for nursing moms to find privacy and comfort when they need it. Another attended a Mental Health First Aid training seminar and certification class, giving themselves the confidence needed to safely intervene in a mental health crisis. Elsewhere, volunteers spent quality time with our Psychosocial Rehabilitation (PSR) participants for a painting lesson! Together, our participants and volunteers let out their inner artist and helped our PSR group work on developing new human connections. Some masterpieces were made in the process! And in one of the largest projects of the day, one of our volunteer teams led an overhaul of our Dulcinea residence, a group home for participants working to develop social skills and gain independence. We brought in brand-new dressers, pillows and bedsheets, personal TVs, and let each participant choose a new color for their walls. Our volunteers built furniture sets, hauled them up and down stairs, and decorated with love. Our participants could feel the love in their new rooms and couldn't wait to show them off! We can't thank our volunteers enough for their dedication and hope to see them again next year! Check out our reel showing off everything our teams accomplished below. Read more about the programs our McDonald's Volunteer Day worked to support at associationhouse.org .

Association House is a big place, full of friendly faces working hard to make sure our services are as top-notch as our community has come to expect! Today, we're highlighting one of the newest additions to our amazing staff: Olivia Paredes , our Salesforce Data Administrator ! With her help, our staff spends less time on paperwork, and more time providing hands-on support in the neighborhood. We're thrilled to have her on our team! Tell us about yourself and what brought you to Association House! I’m originally from Toledo, Ohio, and I completed my undergrad at Bowling Green State University. I’m currently finishing my grad program at the University of Cincinnati, so I’m almost done with that journey! I moved to Chicago this past winter, and I’m still getting to know the city—so I’m definitely taking recommendations for the best tacos, sushi, pizza, and happy hour spots! Where have you worked previously? What do you think you've learned that you'll bring to AHC? This is actually my third time working at a nonprofit. Previously, I worked at Samaritans, a suicide prevention nonprofit, and at ProMedica Philanthropy, a hospital system that operates in southern Michigan and northern Ohio. From those experiences, I learned how to engage with a wide variety of departments and gained a better understanding of their unique needs, which I’m excited to bring to Association House. Tell us about your day-to-day in your position. Right now, I’m still in the learning phase, familiarizing myself with the systems in place here. My role will require me to get to know the goals and needs of Association House’s staff, and I’m excited to start meeting with each department to design solutions that best fit those needs. I’ll also be assessing our Salesforce instance to evaluate the current data, automation, and reporting capabilities. Eventually, I’ll be responsible for ensuring the information we collect is accurate and making workflows more efficient to simplify the processes for the staff. What are you looking forward to at Association House? I’m really looking forward to making life easier for those who work in the field. One of my goals is to make our data more accurate and, ideally, present it in a visually appealing way that’s easy to interpret. What do you enjoy doing in your free time? In my free time, I enjoy running, and I’m currently training for a marathon. I’m also fundraising for a nonprofit, which has been a rewarding experience. Beyond that, I love exploring the city of Chicago, visiting art galleries, spending time at the lake, and finding great spots to read and write. -- Want to join our amazing staff of changemakers? Visit our Careers page at associationhouse.org/careers .

Throughout Association Houses's 125 years of service to Chicago, we've watched our city grow and change in countless ways. From our time in the majority Polish and Jewish Wicker Park of the 1940s, to our current home in Puerto Rican Humboldt Park, we've formed vital bonds with Chicagoans of all creeds and colors and worked hard to meet their unique needs. Nowadays, the Hispanic cultural influence in Chicago can be felt all over the city, from iconic pride festivals to amazing Latin cuisine. Hispanic Chicagoans have left such an impact that it's hard to imagine our community without them-- but did you know that it wasn't until 1990 that Wicker Park reached its peak as a predominantly Hispanic neighborhood? In 1960, the neighborhood was less than 1% Hispanic. Things change much more quickly than you think! The Hispanic move to Wicker Park-- Association House's long-time home-- was a challenging and emotional one. The construction of the Kennedy Expressway in the 1960s forced out many of the neighborhoods original Polish and Jewish residents. Meanwhile, gentrification in Old Town and Lincoln Park left Hispanic families in those neighborhoods in dire need of a more affordable place to live. With construction and gang activity in the neighborhood driving prices down, Hispanic Chicagoans moved in massive numbers. At the time, Association House had less than 30 staff members. Within the next 20 years, that number grew to over 200-- specifically to help support the struggling Hispanic families of our neighborhood. By proudly opening our doors to Hispanic Chicago, we formed in indispensable bond. Throughout the 80s and 90s, the staff at Association House grew to be 85% bilingual to ensure communication and compassion with our new neighbors. Now, in the new century, we've kept our relationship with Hispanic families as strong as ever. We moved to Humboldt Park, one of the nation's oldest Puerto Rican communities, and participate proudly in the annual Puerto Rican Festival, connecting with families in need. Our Life Skills Education program houses a Hispanic Heritage dance team, teaching traditional Hispanic dance styles to individuals living with disabilities. We've worked hard to offer nearly all of our Behavioral Health services in Spanish to make sure that a language barrier doesn't get in the way of quality care. For this year's Hispanic Heritage Month, we held a celebration with staff, participants, and volunteers to spread the joy of being part of such a special community. With a performance by our Hispanic Heritage dance troupe, delicious traditional foods, and a loving speech from one of our Life Skills Education participants on the importance of honoring Hispanic culture, we all came together in love for our Hispanic family. September 15-October 15 is Hispanic Heritage Month in America, and during our 125th anniversary year, we are prouder than ever to celebrate the profound impact that Hispanic Chicagoans have had on our city, and at the House. We are proud to have fostered such a rich cultural history, and vow to keep giving our Hispanic community members the tools they need to pursue their best lives. ---

After breathing problems landed him in a nursing home in 2023, Floyd Cummings was enthusiastic about regaining his independence when approached by the Comprehensive Class Member Transition Program (CCMTP) at Association House. Designed to relocate people who've been wrongfully placed in restrictive care environments, CCMTP gave Floyd a chance at a new chapter. Soon after he connected with the House, he relocated to a newly constructed supportive living community in Bridgeport, excited to have his own space to read, relax, and see more of the city. However, after completing a long-term prison sentence just a few years prior, he was disconnected from his family and unsure how to begin reaching out.   When Association House decided to share some inspiring stories from the program, Floyd's unique journey was an obvious contender. In his thirties, while serving time at the Stateville Correctional Center, he led an impressive career as a professional boxer, facing off against heavyweight champs like Joe Frazier and Frank Bruno. Floyd agreed to a video interview for the Association House TikTok , where his stories and advice were warmly received.   Then, something unexpected happened: Floyd's nephew stumbled across the TikTok video and recognized his uncle. He commented right away and reached out to Association House hoping to reconnect. Soon enough, Floyd and his family were reunited-- able to catch up and bring Floyd back into their lives. With help from his case workers at Association House, he was able to take a trip to Indianapolis for a proper family visit. "I'm not too good of a talker, but we just laid around the house, ate a lot, got fat," Floyd says with a smile. "I can't explain the feeling, but it was there." Back home in Chicago, Association House was able to help Floyd achieve another major milestone: a cataracts surgery that had kept Floyd from some of his favorite hobbies. His vision had declined significantly during his nursing home stay, but he was finally able to get a corrective procedure scheduled once he'd secured his new home. Now at the end of his recovery time, he's back to reading the Dean Koontz books he loves. And, with a voice recorder gifted by Association House, he's spending some time retelling the stories of his life in hopes that one day they might be transformed into an autobiography. With his eyesight improved, he says he's mostly inclined to stay home and relax. "They're trying to get me to go to a ball game, but I'm not going to no ball game... when I was young, maybe, but we don't have front row seats! We gotta go way up in the bleachers? I ain't like that," Floyd says with a laugh. "It's VIP or nothing!" Through social media, decades of isolation and disconnection were no longer an obstacle. Now, a new chapter of Floyd's life can truly begin. -- Read more about Association House's Community Transitions program and its impact at https://www.associationhouse.org/case-management .

Few people have left as profound an impact at Association House as our dear friend, Ron Kurz, who passed away in late August. Today, we celebrate and remember his extraordinary legacy. Ron served as a member of our Board of Directors for 53 years, from 1971 to 2024. Throughout his lifetime of service, Ron’s vision and commitment were instrumental in shaping the direction and success of Association House’s mission. Ron was a dedicated leader and passionate advocate for our community. During his tenure, he stewarded the growth of Association House from a budget of $165,000 to $17 million. Additionally, Ron led the “Opening Doors for A New Century” capital campaign, which raised $5 million and brought Association House to its current home at Kedzie and Division. Though these are just a couple examples of Ron’s accomplishments, his impact has reached far beyond the boardroom through all of the lives he has touched. “Ron’s contribution to Association House is incomparable. He was a real role model for us all in his extensive civic engagement and giving to the community,” shares Nancy Johnson, Association House Board Chair. We will honor Ron’s memory by continuing to pursue the values and goals he fervently championed. We extend our heartfelt condolences to Ron’s family, friends, and all who were fortunate to know him. He will be greatly missed by all of us at Association House. For service information or to share your condolences, please click the button below. If you would like to make a donation to Association House in honor of Ron, please visit www.associationhouse.org/donate .

Calling all changemakers across Chicago! The Association House Auxiliary Board is throwing its annual summer soiree, and you're invited! Come enjoy music, margs, games and prizes on the beautiful patio at El Cid. Connect with other young professionals and chat about how you and Association House can improve lives throughout our community. Discounted early bird tickets are available at the link below.  🥳 Grab a friend and join the fiesta! --- Learn more about the Association House Auxiliary Board and find information on how to join here.

Our 18th Annual Back 2 School Fair was our biggest yet! We provided free backpacks, school supplies, children's books, and community resources to nearly 600 students. Plus, we raffled off some brand-new bikes and provided over 70 school physicals. We had so much fun getting to celebrate the start of a new school year with our neighbors and friends! The impact that our Back 2 School Fair and others like it have on Chicago can't be overstated. A 2023 study conducted by Deloitte revealed that the average cost of school supplies for students was $661 per child-- a 27% increase from 2019. Chicago Public Schools itself reports that 80% of families in its system are considered economically disadvantaged. For many families in our city, this financial burden can't be met without help. This is why we put so much effort into organizing our annual fair! Without working to fill this gap in access to school-year essentials, students' grades, creativity, relationships, and self-image can suffer. We're determined to send as many students as we can back to school with the tools they need to make every year their best yet. We're so grateful to our community partners who showed up in support as well. 16 organizations from around the city joined us to share resources with students and parents. The Clerk of the Circuit Court provided assistance with record expungement. Big Brothers Big Sisters connected our participants with afterschool mentorship buddy programs. Open Books passed out dozens of free books for all ages! (Check out the full list of Back 2 School resources here. ) And of course, our Back 2 School fair wouldn't be complete without our fan-favorite bubble and balloon show. We saw a little bit of rain, but that didn't get us down! We kept the music going and the bubbles flowing, and before we knew it, the sun was out again! To everyone who participated in this year's fair, thank you for making it such a blast. Our neighborhood wouldn't be the same without you, and we're honored to do everything we can to set you up for another great school year. -- Learn more about our year-round Community Health programs at associationhouse.org/community-health .