🏁 Chicago: Lace up and get stretching, because the Chicago Spring Half Marathon & 10K is just around the corner! 👟🏃 We're back for another fit & fun season of fund-racing for Association House in 2024! Make every step count by teaming up with Association House for the Chicago Spring Half Marathon + 10K Race on Sunday, May 19, 2024. Last year, 11 amazing runners teamed up with us to race for a great cause; and this year, we want to see even more smiling (and sweaty) faces repping the House on their trek across the city! We're offering an exclusive discount code for runners who pledge to fundraise with Association House by April 1. In addition to $10 off your race registration fees through Life Time, you'll receive an invitation to our kick-off breakfast and Fun Run on April 6 and an opportunity to score runner-friendly swag to rep the House on your run on May 19. Ready to run for a great cause? Learn more about how you can join team Association House below.

Tomica, a resilient single mother, always had the determination to succeed. Though her early life had its share of challenges, Tomica maintained belief in her potential. Her path to success at Association House began while attending college when she learned about the organization’s programs. It was then that Tomica made the life-changing decision to enroll in the Financial Careers Training program. In 2021, Tomica successfully completed the Financial Careers Training program, opening doors to a career in the banking industry. Through her experience in the workforce, she recognized a need for a deeper education in technology. Tomica’s determination to enhance her abilities encouraged her to enroll in Digital Skills 4 Life, a decision that would prove to be invaluable in propelling her knowledge and skills even further. Tomica’s experience at Association House wasn’t without its challenges. Due to Tomica’s health conditions and her personal struggles with seizures, there were times when she was unable to attend class regularly. She sometimes contemplated giving up, but her teacher, Hind, provided the encouragement, motivation, and most importantly, the flexibility she needed to persevere. Today, Tomica works in the medical field, excelling in data entry. The knowledge she gained through Financial Careers Training and Digital Skills 4 Life has proved to be advantageous in her professional journey. She shared, “I’m not scared anymore or stressed out.” Financial Careers Training and Digital Skills 4 Life have not only taught her helpful skills but have given her the confidence to tackle challenges, both at work and in her personal life. Tomica believes in herself and states, “I know I can do it!” Tomica’s story doesn’t end here. Her future goals include sharing her remarkable journey, knowledge, and experiences with the youth, particularly young girls, to instill in them that they are worth it. She aspires to help others, just as Association House helped her. Tomica’s journey is a true testament to her determination and resilience. Her story inspires those who face adversity, showing us that we can achieve our dreams with the right support and education. Our Workforce Development programs provide individuals with the necessary tools to stabilize their lives, build confidence in their careers, and move towards economic self-sufficiency. For more information about our programs, click the button below!

This month, Association House is participating in the 2023 Gift Responsibly Campaign, joining lotteries and community organizations across North America to raise awareness about the risk of underage lottery use. The campaign is organized by the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) and the International Center for Youth Gambling Problems and High-Risk Behaviors at McGill University. Research shows that the earlier a person’s participation or exposure to gambling is in childhood, the more likely they are to develop a gambling problem later in life. Gambling exposure during childhood is often through some kind of lottery product, such as lottery tickets or scratch offs. Often these items are given to a child by an adult who is unaware of the associated risks. “The potential long-term risks associated with underage gambling exposure cannot be understated,” said Keith Whyte, NCPG Executive Director. “I commend each Gift Responsibly Campaign participant for their commitment to raising awareness about the risks of youth gambling. Now, more than ever, we must continue to insist that lottery tickets are never appropriate gifts for children.” Keep an eye out for more information about the harmful effects of underage gambling and how you can spread the word. Click the button below for more resources from our Problem Gambling program. If you or someone you love is strugging with gambling, call or text 1-800-GAMBLER or visit www.1800gamblerchat.org. Help is available 24/7 – it is free and confidential.

Introducing Association House's Culinary Program Facilitator, Chef Tenoch Ang! After many years of planning and strategizing, Association House launched its culinary program for returning and justice-involved citizens in 2022. With over three decades worth of experience, Chef passes on his expertise in the culinary field and prepares graduates for positions in professional kitchens. Tell us a little about yourself! I am half Chinese, half Filipino, and multilingual. I love to cook and eat. I was an International Banker after graduating college, but I found myself cooking and baking after working in the bank. My father was a chef in China, who discouraged me from being a cook/chef, as he believed that people in the culinary business are not paid very well. What about your work inspires you? Since I was 18, I have loved to cook, bake, and travel exploring the food of the world. Through cooking, I want to be able to be of service to the community. I love to teach and share my experiences to people who don't have the financial resources to take up culinary. What would you consider your biggest accomplishment at Association House? I have been told several times that the management of Association House has been eagerly and actively planning to put up a culinary program for years. Finally, we did it last year, amidst the difficulties! What's a fun fact about yourself? I love learning different languages. I speak Chinese Mandarin, Chinese Taiwanese, Chinese Fookien, Filipino or Tagalog, English and am currently honing my Spanish. I was a professional Folkloric Dancer when I was in college, and a martial artist with a specialization on jitkundo. During my free time or weekends, I explore the food of new restaurants. My favorite dish is paella.

Meet Lili, our passionate Marketing Specialist and a proud first-generation Mexican American. In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, we sat down with Lili to learn about her journey and the role she plays at Association House. Join us in discovering how her cultural roots and commitment empower her to uplift her community and break barriers in the marketing world. Tell us a little about yourself and your position at Association House. Hi, my name is Lili! I am first generation Mexican. I really enjoying cooking and baking even though I am not the best at it, but practice makes perfect. Photography is also something I try to learn more about, not only for fun, but also for work. I have a bachelor’s in communication from Loyola University Chicago. I am the Marketing Specialist here at Association House and I help manage our social pages, such as Instagram and Facebook. I work on the more creative aspects as well, such as creating flyers and designs. What inspired you to pursue your current career path? I wanted to support my community. The Hispanic community can sometimes seem left behind compared to others in my opinion. I want to uplift them as much as I can in anyway. Especially because I understand the struggles it takes to leave your home country and go somewhere new. I also have a passion for wanting to reduce the stigma on mental health. It should not be brushed under the rug, but something that’s recognized. How has your cultural background influenced your career or the work you do at the organization? The desire to be a voice. To be one of the individuals who paves a path for the ones that want to follow similar paths. It feels like sometimes you can’t do something, because you don’t see someone that has a similar background in that position. I struggle with that when I feel like I am the only Latina in the mix. There’s a drive to do better for the people around me and the people who feel like those doors won’t open. Are there any Hispanic figures or leaders who have inspired you throughout your life? Honestly, my parents. I’ve heard so many stories from their childhoods to how they became citizens and seeing them work so hard and all they do for me, and my younger brother makes me truly appreciate all they did and continue to do. Frida Kahlo is also a big inspiration. What she stands for, and her artwork has always stood out to me. She wasn’t afraid to be herself and fiercely independent. Can you share a cultural tradition or celebration that is meaningful to you? Thanks to the movie Coco by Pixar, I developed a stronger connection and appreciation for the holiday, The Day of the Dead. For as long as I can remember, my mom always had an Ofrenda set up close to our front door. An Ofrenda is an altar where it’s decorated with pictures of deceased loved ones and all types of foods and candies or even drinks that they loved. It is believed that on this day they come and visit us and enjoy the items that are placed alongside. It made me understand that though people we love aren’t around anymore, they are never truly gone. Plus, now I love helping my mom decorate and sharing stories. Follow us on social media to see how Lili amplifies the work of Association House!

Meet our Grants Manager, Katie! With a passion for making a difference and a proven track record in the world of grants, Katie joins our team to spearhead our pursuit of impactful funding opportunities. Her expertise in grant management and her dedication to empowering change align perfectly with our mission, and we couldn't be more excited to have her on board. Tell us about yourself! Hi! I'm Katie. I am from the west suburbs of Chicago and currently reside in Oak Park with my husband. My journey in the nonprofit sector began at the University of Wisconsin Madison, where I earned my degree in Community Nonprofit Leadership. After college, I spent two years serving with AmeriCorps, first with City Year and then in a trauma-informed after-school program. These experiences in the programmatic side of nonprofits solidified my passion for working with organizations committed to bridging the opportunity gap. A quote that has stuck with me and guides my professional philosophy is from Wes Moore, who said, "Potential is unlimited. Opportunity is not. Our job is to bridge the gap.” This encapsulates what I aspire to do each day: use my skills to increase resources for programs and organizations that make a real difference in people's lives. Where did you work previously and what experiences have you gained from the role? Before I joined Association House, I worked as the Development Manager at Volunteers of America of Illinois. The two organizations have similar goals and values, which helped me transition smoothly. In my previous role, I had a chance to work on many different parts of fundraising and development. I improved my grant writing skills and got a deeper understanding of community needs in Englewood and Humboldt Park, especially around behavioral and community health. This experience now guides me in my current role as Grants Manager. Tell us about your day-to-day as a Grants Manager. In my role as the Grants Manager, I'm part of the larger Development team. I'm responsible for overseeing our grants, writing new proposals, and nurturing relationships with our partners. Every day is a blend of writing, project management and relationship-building. My tasks range from crafting compelling narratives about our work to connect with funders, to tracking grant deadlines and outcomes. What are you looking forward to in your new position? I'm particularly excited about working across departments, learning from our staff and participants, and playing a supportive role that enables our frontline workers to do their amazing work. The breadth and impact of the programs at Association House are something I truly admire, and I hope that my role in securing resources will contribute meaningfully to all of the programs. What is a fun fact about yourself? I love walking! Whether it's strolling around Oak Park or walking through the halls of the building, you can find me getting my steps in. It's my way of staying active, taking a mental break, and exploring my surroundings.

On August 5th, Association House held its 17th annual Back 2 School Fair. Despite the rainy weather, our community showed up. Volunteers distributed 548 backpacks filled with school supplies, notebooks, pencils, and other essentials to students. In addition, 46 children received physicals to prepare for the upcoming year. The Back 2 School Fair also gave parents the opportunity to connect with over a dozen community partners to learn about local resources to support their families. At one of the booths, WEBZ's Nereida Morena interviewed kids to hear their thoughts ahead of the school year. This amazing day was complete with face painting, balloon animals, bike raffles and a bubble show. Thank you to everyone who made this year's Back 2 School Fair a success! Major support for this event provided by Comcast NBC Universal and WBEZ Chicago.

Four years ago, Renease never could have imagined her life as it is today. She was in the midst of one of the most challenging times she had ever faced. In 2019, Renease was diagnosed with cancer. Shortly afterward, she found out she was expecting a child. With no other options, Renease knew she had to prioritize her health and leave her job. Soon enough, Renease was on the road to remission, and welcomed her baby in March of 2020. Despite the joy of becoming a mother to her second child, COVID-19 surfaced, making it hard to secure employment and provide for her growing family. And then there was hope. One day, while scrolling through her Facebook feed, Renease came across an interesting advertisement for the BankWork$ program offered at Association House. Given her long-time interest in banking and the convenient west-side location of the program, Renease decided to take the leap of faith. “I wanted to get into banking years ago, but I let that go because I didn't have any real cash handling experience…The program fit the schedule at the time and everything that I needed so I figured why not?” said Renease. Renease’s journey through the program was difficult. She was still working through personal challenges and would often have moments of self-doubt. Yet, Financial Careers Facilitator, Sherri Richardson, emerged as a mentor for Renease. Sherri listened to Renease’s struggles and helped her find the strength she needed to finish the program. “If you’re looking for a change in your life or want to feel like you belong somewhere or want to feel encouraged and not judged, come to Association House,” Renease shared. Not only did she finish the program, she found the confidence to give a speech at the BankWork$ graduation ceremony. Afterwards, she went on to take classes through Association House’s Tech#Ready program so she could excel in her new career. Through hard work and dedication, she graduated at the top of her class. “I don't know where I would be right now if I didn’t come across BankWork$. It jump-started me getting back on my feet, defining who I am, getting on the path back to independence and starting over. That’s what BankWork$ was for me – it was starting over,” said Renease. Empowered with the skills and confidence instilled by her time at Association House, Renease is thriving. Today, she serves as a Client Service Analyst at JP Morgan Chase. Though her work can be stressful, she is finding fulfillment in her career and ensuring stability for her children. Association House is proud to walk alongside participants like Renease, down the path to a brighter future. We would like to thank Boeing for their support of the BankWork$ program, making stories like Renease’s possible. Their considerable investment is helping build a more equitable future for BankWork$ graduates and their families. Boeing proudly supports innovative partnerships and programs that create value and help build better communities worldwide. This includes improving access to globally competitive learning as well as workforce and skills development and supporting military and veteran communities. Learn more about their impact on their website.

On the final day of the UnidosUS Annual Conference, Latinos and Allies gathered to learn and collaborate on community issues. During the event, Lillian Bui, the Development Director at Association House, spoke with Sabrina Franza from CBS 2. The discussion centered on Vice President Kamala Harris's speech, which covered the Biden administration's actions to support struggling families. When asked about the speech, Bui commented: "People's future shouldn't be determined by the systemic forces that have created oppression, that have created low incomes." Click the button below to read the full article.

Association House was awarded the 2023 Advancing Minority Mental Health honor by the American Psychiatric Association Foundation. This prestigious $5,000 award recognizes Association House's behavioral health programs for their dedication to raising awareness and improving access to mental health in underserved minority communities. In an interview with Austin Weekly News, Clinical Director, Tanya Wade, said, “We all know that in Black and Brown communities, our folks are not necessarily seen and what I mean by seen, is recognized for their humanity and what they bring to the table, the strength, pride and culture that we have, so being able to work at an agency to provide services to the folks that are underserved within the community is important.” Click the button below to read the entire article.

This past weekend, Child Welfare recognized our foster parents at Foster Appreciation Day! To recognize the endless love and support our foster parents give, we invited foster families to celebrate themselves! Families had a blast eating delicious food, dancing to music, and participating in games and raffles. We are beyond grateful for our foster parents who opened their hearts and provided vulnerable children in our community with a safe and nurturing environment. For more information about becoming a foster parent, click the button below.

Join Association House's Clinical Director, Tanya Wade, and High School Culture & Climate Coordinator, Jemina Lyle, at Impact for Good, a virtual series hosted by American Family Insurance Dreams Foundation, on July 26 at 3pm. Listen to our staff discuss why whole-person and culturally responsive services are imperative to cultivating a supportive community — and learn how you can assist in reducing access barriers in your own neighborhood. We can't wait to see you there!