Chicago Commons Celebrates 130 Years
Chicago Commons provides senior services. This year,
it is celebrating its 130th Anniversary. PHOTO PROVIDED
BY CHICAGO COMMONS.
Chicago Commons was founded in 1894 by Graham Taylor, a contemporary of Jane Addams who was inspired by the Settlement House movement. The idea was to help immigrants acclimate to their new homeland by providing English classes, job training and social support. While the interventions have changed, the mission to provide resources to people in the community has stayed the same.
The main focus areas of Chicago Commons are early education, Senior services and the Family Hub, which provides wraparound support for families. Throughout the years, the organization has maintained a spirit of collaborating with communities, listening to the needs of the communities and providing the best interventions and support.
Chicago Commons is headquartered in Bronzeville and there are four other locations: two early education sites in West Humboldt Park, one early education site in Pilsen and one early education site in Back of the Yards. The organization services about 4,000 people each year. The early education program services 1,750 children on a daily basis, through internally operated sites as well as partner sites, which there are 25 sites in 18 neighborhoods throughout the city.
“Our footprint is pretty large in early education and we are one of the leaders in terms of size, but also, a leader in quality. We take pride in the services that we offer for underserved kids and underserved communities,” he said.
Chicago Commons’ early education program uses the Reggio
Part of Chicago Commons’ DNA is that it is rooted and based in communities. A lot of the staff are from the communities that the organization serves. The staff members are proud of that. It gives the organization the ability to have a pulse on the community which enables them to collaborate and provide community-wide interventions.
In May, there will be a celebration to honor the legacy of Chicago Commons, as well as other events centered around community. The gala will feature speakers and is designed to reflect the organization’s rich history.
“We’d like to think that our organization and the city have grown up together,” Ramirez said.
Ramirez added the key to Chicago Common’s longevity has been the staff, which he described as amazing. Some of the staff members have been on staff for 25 to 30 years and a number of the staff have grown up in Chicago Commons. He also credited the ability to keep a focus on the mission and the purpose.
Ramirez said the board has developed strategies and vet the viability of the strategies. They are also figuring out ways to continue the work and ensure it is sustainable, impactful and developing ideas for the next 130 years. Everyone is focused on the mission and aligned in the work.
For more information about Chicago Commons, visit www.chicagocommons.org.
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