Please spend time examining the following Kinship Initiative Partner Organizations to familiarize yourself with their unique missions and incredible accomplishments.
Blessed Sacrament Catholic Youth Center
3600 W. Cermak Road
Chicago, Illinois 60623
www.bsyc.org
Brian Norkett, Executive Director
As a satellite outreach of St. Agatha’s Catholic Church, the youth center serves young people of the North Lawndale Community. Founded in 1987 and housed in the former Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church. The spacious facility houses basketball and volleyball courts, game tables, computer stations, board games, study and meeting spaces, a fitness room and a full service kitchen. It is also a safe and comfortable place for young people to do homework, receive tutoring, rollerblade, socialize, engage in other sports, convene for field trips, cultural presentations, arts and crafts. The center’s mission is promote good values and nurture maturity and skills in young people so they will become responsible and productive citizens and build bright futures. The center is open to all young people without regard to their religious affiliations and it serves more than 200 young visitors per week. Volunteers are welcome to serve in multiple capacities in the center’s programming.
Journey of Redemption by Charles Norman, Programming Coordinator at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Youth Center
My name is Charles Norman. I am the programming coordinator of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Youth Center in North Lawndale where I have worked for more than 10 years. This is my story which took me from being an innocent kid, to a misguided youth, to a convicted felon and finally to a college graduate and community leader in North Lawndale. It’s a story of how much second chances can truly change lives.
As a teenager, I took the wrong path. I was tempted with a variety of peer and social pressures. I was looking for opportunity and seeing how easy it was for others to earn fast money on the street so I began to sell crack cocaine. After a couple of successful years of selling narcotics, things were reaching an all-time high for me money-wise. However, in life we know there is a bubble that can burst in just about everything. So, after being convicted and serving prison time for possession of narcotics as a young adult it happened and I dropped to an all-time low.
After having been convicted for selling narcotics several times and then only being able to work dead-end jobs, I felt hopeless. On top of all that I saw one of my childhood friends lying lifeless on a slab after being murdered in cold blood in the neighborhood. It was rough out on those streets.
I had reached an abyss in my life, but a few anchors — beacons of hope were there to steer me in the right direction. One was my Uncle Jesse who never gave up on me. He always encouraged me to do the right thing. He constantly reminded me that I was the future and that I had done wrong so long that it was time for me to begin to do right. I remember an inspirational sermon at my friend’s funeral, which ultimately led me to Christ. I also remember Blessed Sacrament Church staff members, Will Daley, Mary Quinn, and Audrey George never giving up on me, pushing me hard and motivating me to believe in something greater than myself. I am indebted to all who have treated me like family and helped me to realize my potential. They told me that I can be what I want to be so often that it turned my life around. As a result, I worked three jobs, payed my way through school and graduated from Robert Morris College in July 200. Since then I have had the privilege and honor of serving at multiple not-for-profit organizations that helped me to improve my life.
I am thankful that the leaders at the Blessed Sacrament Youth Center did not hold my previous mistakes against me and hired me in 2005. I started as the Assistant Programming Coordinator and was later promoted to Programming Coordinator. Blessed Sacrament is open everyday after school and on Saturdays serving anywhere from 60 to 100 children each day. I coordinate activities for them such as tutoring, trips and cultural programs, basketball tournaments, arts and crafts, dance contests and other events designed to enrich the lives of the young people of North Lawndale.I learned from my past and I work hard to make sure that our kids have healthy positive influences in their lives so that they don’t make the same mistakes I made. Our society needs more businesses and employers to show compassion toward people looking for work who made previous mistakes. I am glad that the people of Old St. Pat’s care about this important justice issue.
Because of the influence of Blessed Sacrament Youth Center, many kids have been saved from lives of drugs, violence and despair. Blessed Sacrament has helped to keep many of them out of prison and alive today because they have a place of hope to go to in a neighborhood often full of despair.I would like to thank the people of Old St. Pat’s Church and especially those of the North Lawndale Kinship Initiative who for the last three years have shared their talents and treasures with the people of North Lawndale. Because of your generosity, faith, and willingness to go beyond your church walls, so many North Lawndale residents, and especially the young people, will have places where they can come to receive happy and healthy influences.
On behalf of the youth center, I thank you for your labors and help. They are greatly appreciated. We look forward to continuing to find ways to be in kinship with you and we welcome you to visit us at any time.
Blessed Sacrament Catholic Youth Center Brian Norkett, Executive Director
360 West Cermak Road, Chicago, IL 60623
773-277-4640, http://www.bsyc.org
To get involved with The Blessed Sacrament Catholic Youth Center or for more info contact:
Beth Dybayla
North Lawndale Kinship Initiative Liaison
Beth.dybala@gmail.com
Career Transitions Center of Chicago
703 West Monroe Street
Chicago, Illinois 60661
www.ctcchicago.org
Anita Jenke, Executive Director
http://www.ctcchicago.org/
A not-for-profit organization that provides professional, emotional and spiritual support to those seeking a job, looking for meaningful work or otherwise going through a career transition.
The organization offers a variety of programs and resources to help individuals from all fields, and at all career levels to create plans to meet their goals. In addition to its regular services that are available to people of North Lawndale, it also offers a special support to young adults from that community who are making difficult transitions between education, homelessness, joblessness and general economic instability. Volunteers are need to help sponsor and support these job seekers.
To get involved with The Career Transitions Center or for more information contact:
Christine Conry
North Lawndale Kinship Initiative Liaison
Christine.conry@gmail.com
The Firehouse Community Arts Center
A Ministry of Lawndale Community Church
3827 W. Ogden Ave.
Chicago, Illinois 60623
www.thaFirehouse.org
Pastor Phil Jackson, Executive Director http://www.thafirehouse.org/
Once home to the Chicago Fire Department’s Engine 38, Pastor Phil Jackson’s House Covenant Church and the Lawndale Christian Community Church have repurposed the facility into a state of the art community center to help rescue a generation of youngsters from the despair of the mean streets. “The Firehouse” welcomes and engages students from North Lawndale and Little Village, to provide a haven, nurture relationships with them, help them discover their gifts and launch them toward future prosperity. “The Firehouse” is an outgrowth of Pastor Phil’s “Hip-Hop Church services that attract teens and young adults from far and near each month. It offers a place to socialize, web design, graphic arts, video and audio editing to give young people a head start with these disciplines when the go off to college, seek certifications or actually search for work in these media. The Firehouse is presently home to a dance studio and tech lab, and it will eventually contain video and photo lab and a full service kitchen to teach culinary arts and to provide daily nutritious meals for its young visitors. The near term goal of the Firehouse is to raise $75,000 to finish the building’s renovations and install an interior elevator. Volunteers are needed to serve in multiple capacities within the visionary mission of the Firehouse.
Firehouse Community Arts Center Video Clip (Approx 2:00)
To get involved with The Firehouse or for more information contact:
Dennis LaMantia,
North Lawndale Kinship Initiative Liaison
Dennis.lamantia@gmail.com
Greater Love Church of God in Christ
1612 S. Hamlin Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60623
www.glcogic.org
Minister Rex Peel, Pastor
http://www.glcogic.org/
Since 1967, the Greater Love Church of God in Christ has been reaching and teaching the hopeless that there is hope in Christ. Through God’s love, the ministers and congregation seek to serve and uplift the deprived and unemployed through community based outreach ministries to men, women and children. The ministry also advances the community through the preaching of the Word of God, seminars, after-school youth programs, music, and drama and various forms of outreach to the surrounding community. Volunteers are needed to support these activities.
To get involved with Greater Love Church or for more information contact:
Dennis LaMantia,
North Lawndale Kinship Initiative Liaison
Dennis.lamantia@gmail.com
Lawndale Christian Legal Center
1530 S Hamlin Ave
Chicago, Illinois 60623
http://lclc.net/
Clifford Nellis, Executive Director and Lead Attorney
http://lclc.net/
The Lawndale Christian Legal Center (LCLC) is a Christian, charitable legal center that cares for the legal needs of the underserved and marginalized by representing individuals regardless of their ability to pay. LCLC walks alongside clients holistically by meeting their legal needs with special care through the love of Jesus. LCLC’s mission is to remain alongside youth and young adults twenty-four years old and younger who live in North Lawndale and are involved 
in the juvenile and adult criminal courts. Through quality legal representation, compassionate social health services, and one-on-one mentoring, LCLC helps them to break free from the justice system, develop as good citizens and leaders of the community and build their futures for the better. LCLC is also in the process of developing a Restorative Justice / Peace Hub for its young clients and the wider community.
To get involved with LCLC or for more information contact:
Carol Casey
North Lawndale Kinship Initiative Liaison
galcasey@aol.com
The Learning Center
2153 S. Millard Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60623
www.tlcchicago.org
Sr. Monice Kavanaugh, O.P.- Interim Executive Director
http://www.tlcchicago.org/
Since 1983, the Learning Center has proudly served the North Lawndale and Little Village communities in Chicago with the beliefs that “all adults can learn, they have a right to quality education, and that education is liberating.” Thus with quality education as the main goal of the center, programming includes free classes offered in partnership with Malcolm X College, employment assistance and financial and future education counseling. Adult Literacy and GED preparation are offered on site, as are ESL classes and access to new computer labs to provide training in basic and job-related computer skills. The center equips adults with literacy skills so they can live effective personal lives, gain sustainable employment and make positive contributions to their families and community. Volunteers are needed as one-on-one tutors and in support of the wide ranging services and initiatives at the center.
To get involved with the Learning Center or for more information contact:
Marybeth Coleman
North Lawndale Kinship Initiative Liaison
marybethcoleman@sbcglobal.net
Mercy Home
Friends First Volunteer Mentoring Program
Hay Boys Campus
1140 W. Jackson Blvd.
Chicago, Illinois 60607
Girls Campus
11600 S. Longwood Drive
Chicago, Illinois 60643
www.mercyhome.org
Katie Keller-Smith, Director of Volunteers
http://www.mercyhome.org/
The home, founded by a Catholic priest in 1887, has been a children’s safe haven, charity and residential facility that serves at-risk youth and helps them pave the way to brighter futures. Today the impressive facilities still provides safety, holistic nurturing, counseling and solid educational opportunities that ideally happens in stable family life. Friends First volunteers help to foster healing, personal growth, encouragement and support that young residents need. This ministry is sustained by generous benefactors and volunteers who believe in the miracle of God’s mercy in action. The Friends First Mentoring Program began in 1987 to match children one-on-one with well-trained and supported volunteer adult mentors and volunteers are needed to serve in these capacities.
Mercy Home for Boys and Girls Video Clip (4:52)
To get involved with the Friends First Mentoring Program or for more information contact:
Katie Keller-Smith
Director of volunteers and North Lawndale Kinship Initiative Liaison
katkel@mercyhome.org
Mary Quinn
Friends First Manager and North Lawndale Kinship Initiative Liaison
MarQui@mercyhome.org
North Lawndale College Prep
Collins Campus Christiana Campus
1313 S. Sacramento Blvd. 1615 S. Christiana Ave.
Chicago, Illinois 60623 Chicago, Illinois 60623
www.nlcphs.org
John Horan, President
http://www.nlcphs.org/
North Lawndale .College Prep High School (NLCP) has prepared 9th – 12th grade students from under-resourced communities for graduation with academic skills and personal resilience necessary for successful completion of college since 1998. NLCP’s academically rigorous, yet socially and emotionally supportive, small charter school environment personalizes services for students on two campuses. 100% of graduates are accepted to at least one college or university, and college attendance and retention rates have increased each year and surpassed national and Chicago Public School rates. The North Lawndale Kinship Initiative supports NLCP’s through numerous volunteer opportunities.
North Lawndale College Prep High School Video Clip (8:19)
To get involved with NLCP or for more information contact:
Evan Westerfield
North Lawndale College Prep Chief of External Affairs
EWesterfield@nlcphs.org
North Lawndale Employment Network
3726 W. Flournoy Street
Chicago, Illinois 60624
www.nlen.org
Brenda Palms-Barber, Executive Director
With the belief that everyone deserves an opportunity to work and that the community flourishes when sustainable jobs give residents both paychecks and self-worth, the North Lawndale Employment Network (NLEN) serves unemployed and underemployed people in North Lawndale and beyond. Many NLEN clients are formerly incarcerated and dealing with other significant barriers to employment, thus this organizations specialization. NLEN helps them to prepare for, find, maintain and succeed at new jobs through motivation, training, networking with the employers and tracking of the progress.
N.L.E.N. PROGRAMS
- U-Turn Permitted Program – Coaching and training to help people with records of criminal convictions to transition to the world of work.
- Sweet Beginnings — a for profit enterprise through which participants enhance employment skills by tending beehives, harvesting honey, managing inventory and manufacturing natural skin care products infused with locally produced honey or beeswax.
- NLEN Resource Center — one-stop shop for clients to access telephones, computers, photocopiers, fax machines; financial literacy info, resume-writing skills; job postings; attend job readiness workshops; and receive job coaching and employment referrals and support.
- Center for Working Families (CWF) – Serves as a hub for all resources provided by the North Lawndale Employment Network including outreach, coaching, and bundles of services to help clients reach their economic goals. This program integrates long-term financial counseling into NLEN’s existing services, showing clients how to expand their financial education and access credit-building programming and interventions. By adding income supports and financial counseling alongside employment services, CWF connects residents to the economic mainstream and improves the wider community.
Kinship Initiative volunteers serve in support capacities for these and other initiatives at NLEN.
Multiple opportunities are available based on your interests, availability and expertise.
To get involved with NLEN or for more information contact:
Kate Ronan
North Lawndale Employment Network Liaison
ktronan@sbcglobal.net
Saint Agatha Catholic Academy
3151 W. Douglas Blvd.
Chicago, Illinois 60623
www.stagathaacademy.org
Patricia Williams, Principal
http://www.stagathaacademy.org/
The Pre-K through 8th grade school has continued to develop academically strong and prepared and morally upright young people who serve God since 1895. St Agatha School also has a strong mission to enrich families and the wider community through a variety of outreach and support programs. The 85 Pre-K through 8th grade students, 15 faculty, staff and volunteers, plus family members and other supporters comprise the loving, caring Christian community working in an educational partnership. The school’s holistic programming includes a comprehensive academic curriculum, information technology, before, during and after school enrichment programs, before and after-care, financial-aid, physical education and athletic teams.
Kinship Initiative Volunteers are needed for tuition sponsors, the School Development and Marketing Team, fundraising, facility improvements, donations of new or excellent condition technology equipment and curricular supplies and event sponsorships.
To get involved with St. Agatha Catholic Academy or for more information contact:
Ms. Pat Folland
North Lawndale Kinship Initiative Liaison
patf914@gmail.com
St. Agatha Church
3147 W. Douglas Blvd.
Chicago, Illinois 60623
www.st-agatha-chicago.org
Fr. Larry Dowling, St. Agatha Church Pastor
David Wolfe, S.A.F.E. Program Executive Director
http://www.st-agatha-chicago.org/
A vibrant Catholic faith community of 450 families and more than 25 ministries that has served North Lawndale since 1893. Its soul-stirring liturgies reflect African-American spirituality and emotional, energetic preaching and the Gospel Style of music that welcomes, engages, comforts, challenges and spiritually stirs the assembly. It’s S.A.F.E. (St. Agatha Family Empowerment) Program, established in 1991, provides 200 young people per week with after-school, weekend and summer alternatives to gangs, drugs and violence. S.A.F.E.’s holistic programming includes character development, tutoring, computer instruction, leadership training, choir, dance, African drumming, arts, crafts, special interest workshops, cultural field trips and nutritious meals.
To get involved with St. Agatha Catholic Church or for more information contact:
Frank Bergh
North Lawndale Kinship Initiative Liaison
frankbergh@gmail.com
YMEN
1241 S. Pulaski
Chicago, Illinois 60623
www.ymenchicago.com
Michael Trout, YMEN Executive Director
Sharona Drake, Pearl Director
http://www.ymenchicago.com/
YMEN is a dynamic organization that has served Chicago’s West Side since 1996. Pearl is YMEN’s newer sister organization and it shares the same facilities, staffs and mission. Both organizations addressacademic and social needs that cripple the futures of many young people in North Lawndale; particularly those 10 – 18-years old. YMEN serves about 150 families weekly through academic support, skill enhancement, entrepreneurial training, arts education, value based classes, mentoring, tutoring, sports, recreation and a variety of field trips. Pearl serves a smaller population but with the same vitality and effectiveness as YMEN. These two organizations emphasize responsibility and program ownership to foster leadership, academic excellence, positive alternatives to student apathy and gang involvement and to pave the way for future abundance.
Kinship Initiative Volunteers are needed as tutors and mentors for youth, fundraisers, funders, instructors for after school programming and Development and Advisory Board Members.
YMEN Video Clip (4:34)
To get involved with YMEN or Pearl or for more information contact:
Rachel Lyons
North Lawndale Kinship Initiative Liaison
rachel@oldstpats.org