North Lawndale Kinship Initiative

The North Lawndale Kinship Initiative is a community development partnership between people in the North Lawndale neighborhood of Chicago’s West Side and Old St. Patrick’s Catholic Church. Despite the racial, religious, and political division we often experience in society today, our diverse collaboration aims to set a different course. We are a movement of engaged churches, schools, community organizations, government officials, businesses and individual leaders in North Lawndale and at Old St. Pat’s that choose to work together to address the pressing issues of our city and times.

Kinship Mission
Through the Kinship Initiative, people of North Lawndale and Old St. Patrick’s Church walk alongside one another in friendship, sharing our talents and resources to secure justice, opportunity and the transformation of our communities.

Please visit the North Lawndale Kinship Initiative Website to learn about our mission, partners and ways you can join us on the journey.

Volunteers Needed at North Lawndale College Prep H.S.

North Lawndale College Prep High School has been a staple in the North Lawndale community for over 2 decades. Its unwavering mission to give students tools necessary to earn a college degree and forge successful futures has shaped the lives of nearly 2,000 students who have graduated from the institution. Ninety-nine percent of the graduating seniors have been accepted to college and 15% of the current staff are NLCP alumni.

Old St. Pat’s members have impactfully served North Lawndale College Prep High School for 11 years. Generous volunteers helped celebrate the educators, they cheered on the students and staff entering the building early in the morning, they served on advisory boards, mentored students and decorated hallways with colorful and inspiring art. Old St. Pat’s kindred presence has been significant and appreciated.

Now, there are more ways you can make a difference at NLCP in 2023:

Attend the Trivia Night Planning Committee Virtual Meeting - January 19, 2023

Help plan Young Professionals Day - Scheduled for May 4, 2023
Be a Senior Project mentor - Date TBD
Host a Lunch and Learn Session for students - Dates and locations TBD

For more info, contact Kendra Fortenberry, NLCP Director of Operations and Volunteer Engagement, at: kfortenberry@nlcphs.org

Learn more and register at: https://www.nlcphs.org/volunteer

When you volunteer, be sure to say, “I’m from Old St. Patrick’s.”

Adult Literacy Volunteer Opportunity in North Lawndale

Give the gift of literacy to motivated adults at The Learning Center, House of Connections in North Lawndale in 2023. Volunteer tutors, advisory board members and financial donors are needed to help improve life outcomes for adult learners in the North Lawndale and Little Village communities. Volunteer, donate or learn more about this 35+ year old Kinship Initiative partner organization at https://tlcchicago.org.

Looking for adults, with patience and skill to tutor adult learners, who’d go to The Learning Center, House of Connections in North Lawndale on a weekly basis. Spanish and English speaking tutors are needed.