COMMUNITY CONNECTION IN THE METROPOLITAN FAMILY
How has your sense of place and togetherness changed this year? As we recover together from the pandemic, we’re discovering new and reworked spaces of community, both physical and virtual. We’re seeing moments of progress big and small take on new significance. As we’re evolving and redefining what support and community look like together, we’re proud to be a consistent presence for our families.
Metropolitan has been here through it all.
MPOWERED COMMUNITY PARTNERS
We Grow is a new collaborative addressing food equity and community empowerment, led by West Englewood community organizations.
“[We Grow is] a sustainable umbrella organization for supporting West Englewood families so they can go from surviving to thriving,” says Michelle Rashad, Executive Director of We Grow and Imagine Englewood if, a We Grow partner organization. “We also hope our Peace Campus will serve as a new place-based model for uplifting Black and Brown communities that can be scaled across the city and nation.”
Our 40th annual Mpower the Night celebrated the power of community transformation. Each element of our program celebrated the progress and impact of collaboration and community connection, including a discussion on the future of urban agriculture and community development with the leaders of the organizations comprising We Grow Chicago.
“Since the first time I met and talked with Ms. Ruidias, it was very evident her children were her number one priority.”
Ms. Ruidias, a single mother of four whose two youngest children go to our North Children’s Center, lost her job in the restaurant industry during the pandemic, and due to various complications, did not qualify for unemployment. She wasn’t alone.
Natalie Quintanilla, a Family Support Worker at our North Center, checks in with Ms. Ruidias weekly. She takes advantage of every opportunity and resource Natalie shares, from financial assistance with bills and rent to free internet. Now Ms. Ruidias is working part-time while accommodating her children’s schedules, and feels hopeful about the upcoming school year.
“I felt like I could breathe and that I could sleep. I felt like I got help and felt like you [LAS] were there with me, even if you weren’t there physically.”
Rochelle, a client of the Legal Aid Society’s Domestic Violence programs, shares her story of surviving and leaving an abusive situation. “It’s just me and my baby. I don’t have no parents, I don’t have no friends, I don’t have too many family members, and I’m so happy I gained a family through the situation I was going through.”
Loren Gutierrez, Managing Attorney of LAS’ Safety and Family Practice Group, led that family – a team navigating virtual communication and court appearances to work toward an Order of Protection for Rochelle.
WELCOME TO OUR NEW HEADQUARTERS!
“There’s something here for everybody,” shares Bryan Johnson, Senior Director of Evaluation and Outcomes, referring to Focus Rooms for personal space, Zoom Rooms for virtual meetings, and windows throughout for natural light. “This space will allow for most sites to be empowered; through our grants work, through our evaluation, through our strategy and direction.”
Everyone should have access to fresh, healthy food, no matter where they live!
Our Calumet Center holds regular food distribution events in our Roseland community. Our Altgeld Youth Leadership Program is fighting food insecurity with its own youth-led food pantry, offering healthy and fresh grocery options in an under-resourced area.
ESPECIALLY IN OUR HOME-BASED PROGRAMS, WE’RE GRATEFUL FOR CREATIVE NEW OPPORTUNITIES TO GATHER TOGETHER – LIKE AN AFTERNOON IN THE PARK!
This socialization event for DuPage Center families focused on gross motor development, or skills that use body movements – in this case, yoga!
FUTURE KINDERGARTENERS COMING THROUGH!
Our Midway Children’s Center kids visited their neighborhood elementary school to explore the classrooms they’ll be in next year, and really enjoyed this experience as preparation for their big transition.
Our Southeast Chicago Center’s Behavioral Health program hosted a Family Funday to engage staff and families in fun, energizing and physical activities to support community healing. From sheltering in place cut off from support systems, to racial violence and injustice, to remote learning and telehealth, and beyond, we appreciated the opportunity to reconnect.
IN THE ICONIC WORDS OF DIRECTOR OF TRAINING VANESSA PERRY DEREEF … BOOM!
Our first in-person Metropolitan Peace Academy graduation since the pandemic brought together nine cohorts of outreach workers and case managers to celebrate their achievements.
