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It's officially the new year, and we're kicking things off with a brand-new way to give back to your community, make new friends, and crush your personal goals at the same time. We're launching the Association House Run Club, a year-round group for runners of all skill levels to motivate one another and support an amazing cause! Our annual tradition of recruiting runners to fundraise at the Chicago Spring Half Marathon inspired us to bring the runner's spirit of perseverance to the rest of the year. In 2025, Association House Run Club members will have the chance to train alongside people who share a love of Chicago and a desire to improve every day. When you join, you'll commit to: Running a minimum of 2 races this year (with the option to choose your own race) Pledge to raise $250 per race to directly impact our program participants. But to prepare for those big days, we'll train together every other Saturday on The 606 trail , pushing each other to be the best we can be and taking in the trail's gorgeous views together. In return for your support, we'll offer: Free training plans for 5K, 10K, and half-marathon runs Exclusive AHC Run Club swag and prizes for top fundraisers . Our previous half-marathon runs have been a blast, and we love how rising to personal challenges goes hand-in-hand with giving to others. "Running changes everything. When you invest in self-improvement, you invest in bettering the community where you live, " says one of our previous runners. "We're here to build a community around our shared vision of Chicago. Every step builds the change we want to see, and we can make that happen together. For yourself and for your city." Interested in taking the first step in a year of training & triumph? Fill out an Association House Run Club Interest Form at tinyurl.com/runclub-2025 , or contact Jennifer Sheridan , Development Specialist. Act soon and join us for our very first run of the year! Learn more in our run club info packet below.

Association House is closing out a big year. We celebrated our 125th anniversary in Chicago, and set our goals higher than ever to match. As 2025 gets closer and closer, we're taking a moment to reflect on all our proudest achievements, from participant journeys that inspired us, to new projects gearing up to help our city in exciting ways-- all made possible with help from community members like you! As part of our 2024 Rewind, we wanted to give our amazing staff a chance to share what stood out to them as their proudest moments of the year. We spoke to program leaders and facilitators all over the building to show off the amazing impact that our community's support has made House-wide. If you would like a deeper look at the House's impact in 2024, check out our Annual Report here . Watch our staff share shining moments from their program below, and don't forget that all donations are still being 100% matched through the end of the year! Don't miss this rare chance to double your impact, and open twice as many doors for your neighbors in 2025. Mary's Moment: "The drop-in center activities are geared around what our participants want. We don't set the schedule, they do." -Mary Gonzalez, Supervisor of Community Reintegration & Support The Drop-In Center is our safe place for those living with mental illness and those transitioning out of nursing homes to form meaningful, independent relationships. Learn more about the program below. Lincoln's Moment: "Families are scheduled to move in before the holidays start, so they'll get to celebrate in their brand new units at Encuentro Square with some of the best views of the city you can find at any apartment." -Lincoln Stannard, Senior Director of Community Development With Encuentro Square, Association House is making its first foray into affordable housing support for our participants. We can't wait to reveal even more surprises with Lucha in 2025! Learn more about Encuentro Square below. Jessica's Moment: "I was proud to help put this family in English classes, help them find a job and fill out their asylum documents, and move into their own apartment using DCFS support funds. It was a team effort." -Jessica Morales, Lead Intact Family Services Case Manager Association House leads its Child Welfare programs with compassion and respect for the families it serves. Learn more about our Foster Care and Intact Family Services programs below. -- Help us continue providing Chicagoans with the support they need to secure their brightest future possible. Donate today and have your donation matched 100% through 2025 at associationhouse.org/donate .

Dear Friends, For 125 years, Association House has been a home for our community. Since 1899, the House has been a safe space where individuals can find unwavering acceptance and support in their journey to build a better future. As we proudly celebrate this milestone, we are filled with gratitude for the journey we have shared and the thousands of individuals we have touched along the way. Thanks to you – our stakeholders, donors, staff, and participants – we have been able to create a meaningful impact and continue to respond to the critical needs of our community. In 2024, we made significant strides toward our bold goal of rapidly expanding access to high-quality services, especially for our Black and Latinx communities that face persistent barriers. We expanded our Workforce Development programs to provide more individuals with job training that leads to sustainable careers and long-term economic stability. We hired additional Child Welfare staff to ensure every child has a safe and loving place to call home. After nearly a year of planning and preparation, we strategically partnered with LUCHA to address the critical housing needs in our community. This annual report is a celebration of Association House’s 125-year legacy and the people like you who continue to support us in this vital mission. Together, we make sure that everyone has a place to call home. Let’s continue to build a brighter tomorrow together, for the next 125 years and beyond. With gratitude, Juan Carlos Linares President & CEO

Child Welfare award-winner Angelica Gervacio was recognized for her compassionate care. Children and families in the Child Welfare system face incredibly challenging odds. For a child, an encounter with the foster care system can be traumatic by nature, and research shows  that trauma can have a lifelong impact. Nearly 80% of children with history in the foster care system report serious mental issues ; 21% exhibit symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, even after finding a permanent home. Conquering the difficult work of keeping children safe is up to Child Welfare case workers. Guiding children and families through the process of rehoming or reunification with respect and kindness is key– but this is easier said than done!  At Association House, we operate a Foster Care program for licensing foster parents and giving foster kids loving places to live; and an Intact Family Services program for reuniting families separated by crisis situations that put children at risk. For our Child Welfare team, the work doesn’t end with rehabilitating families, or seeking new homes for foster children.  We create a culture of fairness, dignity, and compassion for our families, ensuring that parents can find the strength to change their lives, and that children have the support to face their futures confidently. From our annual toy drive to give our Child Welfare families a holiday without compromises, to our judgement-free approach to case management , our team is committed to leading with love. Angelica accepts the CWCA Staff of the Year Award! This year, our unique approach was recognized in more ways than we ever expected. We received three unique honors from leading agencies in the state, celebrating the accomplishments of our Child Welfare team! At this year’s Latino Family Institute Day, one of our star case workers, Angelica Gervacio, was honored with the Child Welfare Contributing Agency Staff of the Year Award  for her inspiring work in the field.  In December, we received honors directly from DCFS in the form of a Certificate of Appreciation for Foster Law Implementation . We were one of two agencies in the state to receive this award, given to programs that demonstrate outstanding treatment of its foster families.  But we were especially proud of receiving the 2024 Internship Site of the Year Award  from the Chicago Center– proof that our approach to foster care and family services is speaking to a new generation of social workers and generating change for the future. Brooklyn says her internship with our Child Welfare department showed her what respectful social work was capable of. “I didn’t know what to expect, but I’ve learned more in my few months here than I have in the last three years of college," shared Brooklyn, one of our Child Welfare interns. "It’s exceeded my expectations. There are certain case workers here who’ve put me in awe. You can tell they pour their whole soul into this job. " Brooklyn joined our team of interns in 2024 in pursuit of her bachelor's degree in Social Work from Loyola University. Paired with our Intact Family Services award-winner Angelica, she had the chance to see how an emotionally challenging side of Social Work could be handled with care. "You hear a lot about anger toward the whole dynamic of foster care, but I’ve been to a home visit with Angelica where the parent told me, ‘We love her so much. She’s saving our family.’ "  The Association House Child Welfare department accepts their DCFS Certificate of Appreciation. Through this work with Child Welfare team, Brooklyn is excited to face whatever challenges her future career holds, and to change lives for the better in the process. We're honored to share our tradition of compassionate case management with the next generation of Child Welfare workers, and looking forward to another year of pushing our field to be the best it can be. -- Learn more about how Association House does Child Welfare differently at associationhouse.org/child-welfare .

When Association House completed its last strategic plan in 2023, one need was heard over and over again: housing. While Association House has rapidly expanded access to free and low cost mental health services and job training, the need for affordable housing has continued to increase. To truly live into our mission to advance each person’s full participation in community, we knew we needed to take action. Earlier this year, we began conversations with LUCHA , a longtime partner organization and leader in affordable housing development. We wondered, “how might we do more, together?” Through these conversations a plan emerged, and today, we are thrilled to announce a formal alliance approved by our boards in October. Through this alliance, LUCHA will be able to scale its innovative affordable housing development, backed by the strength of Association House. Community and client-based services, like housing counseling, legal assistance, and resident engagement will continue under the Association House umbrella, bringing a multitude of services to LUCHA residents and the wider community. “LUCHA and Association House share common values,  and we often serve the same clients. The more we talked, the more obvious the way forward became. Together, we have incredible potential to better serve our community,” explains Lillian Bui, Association House’s Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives. “LUCHA and Association House of Chicago are both long-standing organizations that serve IL-03. I applaud all efforts to ensure they are both strong, sustainable institutions able to continue serving our community. I am grateful to the leadership of both organizations for their collaboration on this forward-looking effort,” said Congresswoman Delia C. Ramirez. “Coming out of the pandemic, it is more important than ever that nonprofits operate in a strategic  manner. This partnership stabilizes operations in the quickly evolving affordable housing development space, while enhancing service offerings across the board,” explains Juan Carlos Linares, Association House’s President & CEO. Notably, Juan Carlos previously served as Executive Director of LUCHA from 2013-2019, where he oversaw the award-winning Tierra Linda development. This expertise will prove invaluable as we plan our future together, as two organizations, operating in a strong alliance. “For us, it’s always about the people. When an individual can access affordable housing in their own community, in the language they’re most comfortable speaking, and receive a full suite of wraparound services, lives change. That’s what this is all about,” adds Julie Rodriguez, Association House Executive Vice President.

This year's Holiday Smiles Toy Drive at Association House is well underway, and we're on track to make it one of our strongest years yet! As of today, we're nearly 60% to our goal of sponsoring 500 foster kids , gifting them their most-wanted toys and throwing them the holiday festivities they deserve. If you're looking to get involved, there's no better day than Giving Tuesday to show your community you care. In the home stretch before the holidays, we're giving away a wintertime prize package to one lucky donor who helps us give our foster care kids the best holiday ever! If you purchase a toy or make a donation to our activity fund this week, you'll have a shot at a $50 Jeni's Ice Cream gift card , plus some Association House swag. Entering the giveaway is simple, and you can enter anytime before the end of the day on Giving Tuesday-- that's December 3rd! Head to one of the links below to purchase a gift from our Amazon wishlist OR make a one-time donation to our Holiday Toy Drive activity fund! Send us your donation receipt! You can DM us a photo on Instagram , Facebook , or email us at development@associationhouse.org . Cross your fingers for the winner reveal on December 6! If you've already donated, you still qualify for entry! Just send us your receipt to enter. Participating in Giving Tuesday only takes a moment, but it makes a lifetime of difference for the foster children we serve. Thank you for helping us fill this season with joy and gratitude for our foster children and families! -- For more information on all the ways you can still get involved in the Toy Drive and Giving Tuesday, visit associationhouse.org/givingtuesday . ▪

For 16 years, we've provided students of Association House High School with free onsite child care through our Family Literacy Program. It's impossible to overstate the impact of this program on the parents in our building, who are given the chance to pursue their education knowing that their child has somewhere safe to learn and play. Now, in our 125th anniversary year, we're opening our doors to even more little learners. The Family Literacy Program is now available to trainees in our Workforce Development programs. Our Workforce Development division has seen huge growth over the past few years, opening new career paths for our participants all year round. To better support our Workforce students on their journey, we want to take the stress of child care off their plate. “It’s not just daycare,” says program director Michelle Greene. “We show parents how to be their child’s first teacher. We have parenting workshops, take visits to the library, and host Parent and Child Together (PACT) activities so parents have dedicated time to really bond with their kids.”  For students of our most intensive Workforce Training classes-- Financial Careers Training, Association House Kitchen, and Clean Energy Jobs Training-- children from 6 weeks to 5 years old are eligible to join our colorful playrooms and learn alongside our caring bilingual staff. And just like we've offered parent-child bonding time to our high schoolers, the doors are open to Workforce Training parents too. We're excited to provide a home away from home for our new Family Literacy Program kids: hosting holiday parties, playing music, reading, and napping every day away. -- Learn more about the Family Literacy Program at associationhouse.org/family-literacy-program . Interested in a Workforce Training program at Association House? Check out associationhouse.org/workforce-development .

In the summer of 2024, Cecilio took a leap of faith. While working late-night warehouse shifts, he knew he had more to offer the world, but wasn't sure of his true calling. When he stumbled on an ad for Association House's Culinary career training program, he was reminded of countless happy hours spent in his family kitchen. His father had always worked in restaurants, and had lifelong dreams of opening his own-- and his mother had a reputation for mouthwatering Mexican cuisine. "Growing up, my dad was really busy with work, and the little time I got with him was when he was cooking for us. He'd ask me to help out and teach me things. My dad's been working in kitchens for 25 years, and cooking is something that's always brought good memories to me-- so I thought, maybe I could be okay at this," Cecilio shared. Class kicked off in July, and Cecilio took to Chef Tenoch Ang's lessons right away. He learned proper knife skills, cuisine styles from around the world, and spent time with Workforce Training staff to design a resume he could be proud of. The schedule was tiring-- sometimes working 5 PM to 2 AM at his warehouse job, then waking up for class the next morning-- but this only motivated him to complete the program and dedicate himself to cooking full-time. "It honestly didn't feel like a class. It felt like a second home," says Cecilio. "Chef Tenoch was a very positive influence in my life. It was like learning to cook with my other dad-- I was learning from someone that I cared a lot for. Everybody wanted to be there, everyone tried their best every day." Two weeks before graduation, Cecilio felt confident enough in his skills to start applying for positions in kitchens around the city. Excited to put his all into the culinary field, he applied just about everywhere he could find. But to his surprise, he soon had more interview requests than he knew what to do with! Then, in the middle of all the chaos, Cecilio got a phone call that really shocked him. Just a week before graduation, 3-star Michelin restaurant Alinea reached out asking him to join them for two 12-hour practice shifts before inviting him on board officially. "I remember telling Chef Tenoch, and we couldn't believe it. It wasn't just an acknowledgement email-- they called me and ask me to stage. It was a commis chef position, which is entry level, but Alinea is a Michelin-starred restaurant and I had no real experience other than cooking at home and taking the class at Association House. The fact that they even considered me was such a surprise," Cecilio told us, still in a bit of disbelief. Despite all the excitement, Chef Tenoch advised Cecilio to accept all the luck he was having and wait to hear every offer. Soon enough, he received a personal text from Executive Chef Terence Zubieta at the Park Hyatt's luxe NoMI restaurant. They eventually offered him a Cook III position on their staff-- the first step on a very promising path. Now settling into his new role, Cecilio is feeling both humbled by the opportunity and excited at what his future holds. For anyone thinking about pursuing more education or changing career paths, he recommends the Association House Kitchen course wholeheartedly: "Just try. It doesn't hurt to try. It's free! I don't know how you could just scroll past something like this. There are such good people involved in this program who actually care, who want to push you to learn and be the best you can be. What's the worst outcome? Maybe you don't like it? That's it!? Give yourself the chance and start something new." -- Learn more about classes in the Association House Kitchen at associationhouse.org/kitchen .

Our annual Summer Soiree is a chance for young professionals across Chicago to connect and mobilize for change in their city. It's just one of the many volunteering and fundraising events hosted by our Auxiliary Board throughout the year, raising awareness for Association House's mission and making an immediate impact on our participants' lives. This year, we took over the beautiful patio at El Cid in Logan Square for a night of margaritas and music in the name of our cause. The main event was a group salsa dance lesson led by Lisa La Boriqua, but we also played games, made new friends, and spread the word about big things coming at the House! To end the night, we raffled off prize packages from our partners at Tito's, Douglas J. Aveda Institute, the Logan Theatre and more. Our professional community showed up for Association House in a big way at this year's Summer Soiree. Together, we raised nearly $7,000 to directly benefit programs around the House! The Auxiliary Board's continued commitment is a vital part of our mission, and we're always looking for new members! You'll become part of a network of changemakers, organizing events to keep our programs and participants thriving, and having fun while you do it! Our annual trivia night, marathon run club, and holiday toy drive make giving back feel like a celebration. If you're passionate about making Chicago equitable for all, become an advocate for our work by joining the Aux Board! Learn more below, or get in touch with our Donor Experience Manager Drew Williams at dwilliams@associationhouse.org . ---

When Casey joined Association House's NextJob program, he had not imagined he would wind up working for the House itself-- but his confidence and eagerness to learn caught the attention of our workforce training staff. Just a few months after graduating with his NextJob cohort, he joined our team in the Technology Center, instructing our Digital Skills 4 Life course on computer basics! Casey came to Association House after a frustrating job search that left him searching for skills that were more in-demand. As he bonded with the rest of his cohort and instructors, he found himself drawn to Association House and its mission. " Through the class, I learned the atmosphere and energy here, so as soon as I saw that a position was available I knew I'd love the work. And I do! I've been pinching myself since I started working here in September, " Casey says. Before Association House, Casey graduated with an MBA in Theater from the University of Louisville, moving on to teach at charter schools in Chicago. Despite pursuing his passion for teaching high school students, he found himself looking for something different. Now, as Digital Navigator in our Tech#Ready program, he enjoys working with adult learners. " Sometimes, when you're younger, that's not the time that you want to listen and focus. This job offered me the opportunity to engage with people who are actively seeking and hungry to learn ," Casey shared. "Being able to take the class was a huge advantage for me, and now I feel like I can give back." Casey's talent for teaching shows in his unique approach to tech education at Association House, making room for students of all skill levels. Although technology is a big part of many of our lives, access to it is still far from equal , and Casey is determined to make his classes personal for each student-- hopefully to boost their ability to work in computer-heavy spaces. " A lot of people have used computers and smartphones, but in each of my classes, a few people have been completely terrified of technology-- scared to even touch the mouse!" Casey explained. "And I don't think it's totally unreasonable to be a little afraid! But without technology skills, you're locked out of a huge part of our world. I want my class to give people real skills they can take with them-- not just interviewing or networking skills, but putting them in a better mindset for the job search." Now a few months into his time at the House, Casey is preparing to take on a new challenge: leading our Google AI Essentials class , the newest in our Tech#Ready lineup. The class will teach students how to harness artificial intelligence tools to cut back on repetitive computer tasks and take back their valuable time. Casey is excited to keep our participants on the cutting edge. When he's not at the House leading our tech students to success, you can find Casey at theaters around the city like the Steppenwolf or the Improv Olympic-- but he's looking forward to spending more time with us. "With this new class, I'll be teaching 2 classes every other day. I hate not being at work-- I hate not having a reason to be. This work is so rewarding. I'm doing my best to eat a whale one bite at a time-- and I like whales! " he says with a smile. -- Want to join our amazing staff of changemakers? Visit our Careers page at associationhouse.org/careers .

Technology and the Internet fill our daily lives in so many ways that it's hard to imagine our world without it. But did you know that in 2022, 26% of low-income families had no at-home Internet subscription at all? Libraries and community centers around the country have worked hard to fill these gaps in access, but there's no way to overstate the advantages of Internet at home. That's why the National Digital Inclusion Alliance started Digital Inclusion Week. This year, from Oct 7-11, the NDIA and its partners are working to raise awareness and make digital skills more equitable across the country. At Association House, we offer tech training classes throughout the year. In our beginner course, Digital Skills 4 Life, we give participants an in-depth course on how to navigate their personal smartphones, Google Suite, and how to safely browse the web. Beyond the basics, we offer a Microsoft Office Specialist course to certify participants as experts in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and more. Providing this service to the public in Chicago creates a huge impact, and when we asked our past students if they'd be interested in sharing their stories from the class, so many were excited to tell us about how it transformed their lives. One of those students was Marlene Taylor, who joined our Digital Skills 4 Life course after her retirement, suddenly finding herself as the trusted family matriarch. "When you retire, they think you're supposed to do everything for them! You know how that goes," she told us with a laugh. After seeing our Tech#Ready classes advertised on Facebook, she felt motivated to boost her knowledge to help herself and her loved ones-- especially after younger people in her life were caught in online scams. "A former secretary of mine in her early fifties had a friend ask her for money online, but it turned out that it wasn't her friend! She only called her friend to double check after she'd talked to me, and I told her that she needed to make sure. After that, she shut down all her social media," says Marlene. " Seniors need this class, because so many of them are so afraid. " Since completing the course, Marlene says she's protected herself and her family against plenty of phishing emails from scammers pretending to be reputable companies or trusted friends. Now that she's so comfortable with the basics, she's excited about trying new things. Her niece has since introduced her to AI writing tools that she says she would not have had the confidence to try before. Another student, Shweta Jain, came to Association House with a Master's Degree in English from her home country of India, but found herself needing to start over with new skills in the States. After seeing information about our Tech#Ready courses at our Back 2 School Fair, she enrolled in the intermediate Microsoft Office course. However, balancing the class with raising her young son proved to be harder than she expected. "Our instructor, Hind, was extremely kind and supportive. I went to her and told her, 'I'm so sorry. I can't do this.' I started to cry, because it's very hard for me to say no," she told us. "But she encouraged me and gave me a lot of strength. In my mind, Excel was very tough, and I didn't believe I could do it. But with her help, it was very easy. She's one of the best teachers I've had in my life. My thanks are not enough." Before she knew it, the Excel class was over, and Shweta passed her Microsoft Office Specialist certification exam with a 100% score. Now, as she works to complete her new degree in Administration, she hopes to bring her skills and confidence to ESL and Early Childhood Education. "I use my new skills in so many of my classes, and even in my current workplace. I'm so happy that I met Hind and found a path for my future." Hearing these stories among countless others from our Tech#Ready program make us proud to be a leader for digital inclusion. During Digital Inclusion Week, the Association House of Chicago would like to recognize Comcast and UnidosUS for its longtime support of our Tech#Ready Program, which provides bilingual digital skill-building and workforce development training. Advancing digital equity is always on our minds as we work to encourage each person’s full participation in our increasingly connected world. -- Want to learn more about our technology programs? Visit associationhouse.org/tech-ready .

When McDonald's is in the building, we know we're going to get things done. Last week, 100 volunteers from the McDonald's Corporation joined us for a day of beautifying our building, connecting with participants, and celebrating our mission. All their hard work led to one of the most impactful days of the year, instantly transforming the lives of our participants for the better. Better still, the volunteer day lined up perfectly with the kickoff of Hispanic Heritage Month, adding an extra layer of fun and pride to our projects. Our volunteers divided and conquered all over the House. One team assembled our New Moms Room, a brand-new space for nursing moms to find privacy and comfort when they need it. Another attended a Mental Health First Aid training seminar and certification class, giving themselves the confidence needed to safely intervene in a mental health crisis. Elsewhere, volunteers spent quality time with our Psychosocial Rehabilitation (PSR) participants for a painting lesson! Together, our participants and volunteers let out their inner artist and helped our PSR group work on developing new human connections. Some masterpieces were made in the process! And in one of the largest projects of the day, one of our volunteer teams led an overhaul of our Dulcinea residence, a group home for participants working to develop social skills and gain independence. We brought in brand-new dressers, pillows and bedsheets, personal TVs, and let each participant choose a new color for their walls. Our volunteers built furniture sets, hauled them up and down stairs, and decorated with love. Our participants could feel the love in their new rooms and couldn't wait to show them off! We can't thank our volunteers enough for their dedication and hope to see them again next year! Check out our reel showing off everything our teams accomplished below. Read more about the programs our McDonald's Volunteer Day worked to support at associationhouse.org .