Throughout Association Houses's 125 years of service to Chicago, we've watched our city grow and change in countless ways. From our time in the majority Polish and Jewish Wicker Park of the 1940s, to our current home in Puerto Rican Humboldt Park, we've formed vital bonds with Chicagoans of all creeds and colors and worked hard to meet their unique needs.
Nowadays, the Hispanic cultural influence in Chicago can be felt all over the city, from iconic pride festivals to amazing Latin cuisine. Hispanic Chicagoans have left such an impact that it's hard to imagine our community without them-- but did you know that it wasn't until 1990 that Wicker Park reached its peak as a predominantly Hispanic neighborhood? In 1960, the neighborhood was less than 1% Hispanic. Things change much more quickly than you think!
The Hispanic move to Wicker Park-- Association House's long-time home-- was a challenging and emotional one. The construction of the Kennedy Expressway in the 1960s forced out many of the neighborhoods original Polish and Jewish residents. Meanwhile, gentrification in Old Town and Lincoln Park left Hispanic families in those neighborhoods in dire need of a more affordable place to live.
With construction and gang activity in the neighborhood driving prices down, Hispanic Chicagoans moved in massive numbers. At the time, Association House had less than 30 staff members. Within the next 20 years, that number grew to over 200-- specifically to help support the struggling Hispanic families of our neighborhood.
By proudly opening our doors to Hispanic Chicago, we formed in indispensable bond. Throughout the 80s and 90s, the staff at Association House grew to be 85% bilingual to ensure communication and compassion with our new neighbors. Now, in the new century, we've kept our relationship with Hispanic families as strong as ever.
We moved to Humboldt Park, one of the nation's oldest Puerto Rican communities, and participate proudly in the annual Puerto Rican Festival, connecting with families in need. Our Life Skills Education program houses a Hispanic Heritage dance team, teaching traditional Hispanic dance styles to individuals living with disabilities. We've worked hard to offer nearly all of our Behavioral Health services in Spanish to make sure that a language barrier doesn't get in the way of quality care.
For this year's Hispanic Heritage Month, we held a celebration with staff, participants, and volunteers to spread the joy of being part of such a special community. With a performance by our Hispanic Heritage dance troupe, delicious traditional foods, and a loving speech from one of our Life Skills Education participants on the importance of honoring Hispanic culture, we all came together in love for our Hispanic family.
September 15-October 15 is Hispanic Heritage Month in America, and during our 125th anniversary year, we are prouder than ever to celebrate the profound impact that Hispanic Chicagoans have had on our city, and at the House. We are proud to have fostered such a rich cultural history, and vow to keep giving our Hispanic community members the tools they need to pursue their best lives.
---
Commenti