NLW Crossroads Article Series

Donate to North Lawndale Works

Please select "North Lawndale Works" from the dropdown menu.

North Lawndale Works is a year long campaign through which people of Old St. Patrick’s help remove barriers to employment for adults seeking employment in Chicago’s North Lawndale neighborhood.

North Lawndale Works Video

“I stand in awe at what they have to carry rather than in judgment at how they’ve carried it.”  

- Fr. Gregory Boyle, SSJ.
 Homeboy Industries, Los Angeles

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There are three ways you can make a difference for these job seekers:

1. DONATE

Cash and gift cards are greatly needed to ease the financial burdens related to looking for work and starting new jobs once they're hired.

Donations of funds, Ventra Cards, Visa or Mastercards and also gift cards for major grocery and department stores are beneficial. Some examples of how your donations help are:

Donations of:    
$20

​$50

​$100

$250

​$500
​
$1,000
​ ​
​$2500

Provide:
Ventra card (CTA/Pace) fare cards for 2 people, round trip, for 1 day.
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8 - 10 hours of private childcare for the child of a job seeker for 2 days.
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1 pair of inexpensive shoes and 1 shirt or blouse for an interview for 1 person.
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Assistance with a mobile phone bill and food for one family of 4. 

Funds for an entrepreneurial-minded job seeker to prepare a private vehicle for ride and cost sharing with co-workers to and from the job site for 1 month.
​Transportation and food for 5 newly hired workers until they receive their first 2-week paycheck.
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Critical unrestricted emergency assistance for new workers on the brink of making employment breakthroughs.   

       Ways to Donate:

• Donate funds HERE. Please select "North Lawndale Works" from the dropdown menu.
• Drop off gift cards in the collection basket, at the Hospitality Table before and after Sunday Masses or at the Fr. Jack Wall Mission Center, 711 W. Monroe Street, 3rd Floor, Mon - Fri, 9 am - 5 pm. 
• Mail checks or gift cards to:​ Old St. Patrick’s Church, 711 W. Monroe Street, Chicago, Illinois 60661.  Attn: North Lawndale Works. Please indicate North Lawndale Works on the notation line of the check.
• Donations of clothing, shoes and electronic devices are not being accepted.

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2. NETWORK

Since networking is essential to landing a good job in today’s business environment, and because these job seekers have little or no access to such networks, they need help making connections with employers that will consider hiring them. Please reach out to business owners,  managers, HR personnel, co-workers, friends and family in your circles of influence in positions to hire North Lawndale residents with criminal backgrounds into entry level jobs. By leveraging your networks, you provide opportunities they cannot find on their own.

Types of Entry Level Positions to Consider: 

Food service | Driving | Equipment operation | Maintenance | Mailroom | Reception Product assembly
Administrative aid | Tech support | Security | Customer Service | Manufacturing | Hospitality | and more . . . 

Note - A workforce development professional from the North Lawndale Employment Network (NLEN) or Cara Chicago will contact you to explore the job opportunity and provide ongoing support to the job seeker nd employer .

Submit job connections you've helped arrange for adults with criminal backgrounds here!

Job seekers to benefit from North Lawndale Works are workforce ready clients of NLEN and Cara.  These two agencies have successfully prepared, placed, supported and tracked thousands of adult job seekers facing significant barriers to employment.  Click the logos to learn more about these North Lawndale Works partnering agencies:
 
Click the logos to learn more about these NORTH LAWNDALE WORKS, workforce development partners:

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3. ENGAGE!

Examine, pray about and get involved in social justice initiatives at Old St. Patrick’s and beyond.  Learn about these initiatives in each Sunday’s Crossroads Bulletin, at the Old St. Patrick’s Website and in the following links:

• Mission Overview
• North Lawndale Kinship Initiative
• Justice Initiatives
• Phoenix Hall
• Outreach at OSP​

Contact:
Vincent L. Guider
North Lawndale Kinship Initiative Director
vincentg@oldstpts.org

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.