Greetings!
Giving and receiving is a lively
exchange for Chicago Lights.This month we are distributing school supplies and granting high school
scholarships to students. The Elam Davies Social
Service Center has also received two significant
grants and employed four summer interns. All of which would not be possible without the support of partnering organizations, donors, and foundations.  Be inspired by the stories of some of the recipients!
Peace,
Vicky Curtiss, Executive Director
vcurtiss@fourthchurch.org
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Help Students Succeed in School:
Fill a Backpack!
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 A variety of school supplies are being collected for children connected with the Chicago Lights Urban Farm and Tutoring programs, as well as those served by various community agencies. You can give us a boost! This Annual School Supply Drive helps students whose families have difficulty buying the supplies necessary for learning. "Some parents are trying to buy food, trying to pay rent, and they don't have money for school supplies," says Shirley Roach, Principle of George Manierre Elementary. There are three ways in which you can participate and help these children start off the school year strong:
 Once collected, please leave items and/or backpacks labeled "School Supply Drive" with the receptionist at the 126 E. Chestnut Street entrance of Fourth Presbyterian Church. All items are due by August 29, 2010. To help receive, sort and assemble supplies, please contact Anne Ellis (312.573.3369). This supply drive is cosponsored by Women@Fourth Connect and
the Mission Committee of Fourth Presbyterian Church.
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Summer Employees Gain Hope and Valuable Work Experience
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 Inspiration Corporation is a Chicago non-profit organization that seeks to end homelessness
by providing support and services to individuals in need. They offer many services, one of which is the Employment Preparation Training Course (EPT) to help
clients gain the skills and experience needed to find a job and lead a
self-sufficient life. Inspiration Corporation and Chicago Lights Elam Davies Social Service Center (EDSSC) have established a wonderful partnership over the years,
referring people to one another's services, as well as offering
space within Fourth Presbyterian Church to host EPT classes. This year, Inspiration
Corporation received funding from the 2016 Fund for Chicago Neighborhoods,
Illinois Department of Human Services and American Recovery and Reinvestment
Act (or federal stimulus package), to provide paid work opportunities through an
initiative called Chicago Neighborhood JobStart. JobStart is a special collaborative effort to create paid job
training and work opportunities for 2,200 low-income, unemployed Chicagoans
between June 1 and September 30, 2010. JobStart aims to place at least 60
percent of the participants in permanent unsubsidized employment or subsequent
training/education after subsidized employment. This summer, Inspiration
Corporation asked Chicago Lights to be a partner with JobStart. Chicago
Lights is pleased to employ four workers who are helping in the areas of
general maintenance and labor, food service, and administrative assistance. Each earns $9 an hour and works
about 34 hours a week. Their stories are inspiring, and we are pleased to
introduce them to you here:  Gerardo Zarate (who goes by Lalo) says the best thing about working at
Chicago Lights is the teamwork. "We don't mind helping out each other," he
says. "One day I was having a bad morning and just by being in this atmosphere--everyone being jolly--it lifted my spirits." He believes learning to work
with others is one of the most important lessons he'll take from his
experience. "I actually like working here," he says. "It takes me totally away
from my old lifestyle, away from the old people, places, and things. It changes
everything." Read full profile... Jennifer Powers says her favorite part of working with EDSSC are the Sunday Night Suppers, where she's supervising beverage
pouring. "I like it because I'm giving back," she
explains.
She also says her work experience here has taught her to stay
busy. "After finishing the work, instead of bugging Jill to ask about what's
next, I figure out what needs to be done on my own," she says. Read full profile... A
friend told Nichelle Shaw about EPT
while she was researching how to get a GED. She decided to do the EPT first,
and after completing that, she went on to get her GED at the end of 2009. Nichelle
was scheduled to begin working in January 2010, but faced some health challenges for a few months. Finally in the spring, she got a call from Inspiration
Corporation about working at Chicago Lights. "Lord, please don't let anything
interfere with this!" she remembers praying. Her prayer was answered, and her
work as an administrative assistant at the EDSSC is her first job with both her
EPT and GED completed. Read full profile....  Albert Bernard took a building maintenance class and completed
his EPT at the Inspiration Corporation simultaneously. He graduated from both
sessions in October 2009, and after a few months of intermittent work he's now working as a general laborer at the
EDSSC. Albert says he loves his work atmosphere and
being in a church. "Being in this building has made me think a lot about my
life," he says. "More so than ever before. People ask me, 'You work in a
church?' [and I say,] 'Yeah, a real church.'
I am very proud of being able to work here." Read full profile... |
| Two New Grants Help Alleviate Hunger and Homelessness | |
 Chicago Lights Elam Davies Social Service Center (EDSSC) is thrilled to have recently received significant support from the Greater Chicago Food Depository (GCFD) in the form of two new grants.
The Agency Grant will cover our food-delivery costs for another year. In addition, it will allow us to renew our annual subscription to HelpEngen, a web-based service that screens people to determine their eligibility for a full range of public benefits. This service is a huge time-saver and beneficial to the guests of EDSSC because if a person is eligible, they can more easily complete their application online. They receive a print out to submit, or Chicago Lights can send it in on their behalf.
The second grant, a Community Collaboration Grant for $15,000, equips us to meet two goals: to increase access to food assistance and to connect guests to additional services that will help them break out of the cycle of poverty. Through our partnership with Breaking Bread (a ministry of LaSalle Street Church), EDSSC will ensure that the guests served by both programs have access to all of the services mutually provided. Chicago Lights will also provide intensive case management services (including individual and group support) to three guests from each program to help them regain stability and make progress toward attaining their goals.
We are so thankful to have the Greater Chicago Food Depository as a partner in service, and we appreciate their support of our efforts for those in need.
For more information about Chicago Lights grants, contact
Trina Portillo, Associate Director for Foundations and Corporations
tportillo@fourthchurch.org or 312.981.4087. |
First-Ever Karaoke Kafe!
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"It's fun to stay at the Y-M-C-A!!"
The first-ever Karaoke Kafe, during the July 18 Sunday Night Supper (SNS), featured an entire room of people at one point singing at full volume and enthusiastically creating letters with their bodies as The Village People's "Y.M.C.A." played over the speakers. Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean" was also a favorite among the 100 songs offered.
Guests of the Chicago Lights Elam Davies Social Service Center (EDSSC) attend SNS to enjoy a healthy meal and gain a sense of community by dining with others--and now they can move to music, too!
Sunday Night Supper begins at 3:00 p.m. Computers, and sometimes health consultations, are available as an activity or group discussion. At 4:00, all are invited to attend the worship service in the sanctuary at Fourth. At 5:00 pm, dinner is served in Anderson Hall.
Karaoke Kafe was created by Nicole Baker, a summer volunteer. Nicole recently finished her junior year at Rhodes College in Tennessee, where she's a music major and religious studies minor. She found the EDSSC through a family connection. She's serving as Guest Services Coordinator for eight weeks this summer, registering guests, as well as helping with food and clothing appointments and lunches.
Nicole is also in charge of the Social Support Group activities for July and because of her background, she naturally gravitated toward music. Karaoke Kafe was presented to get guests comfortable with music in the hopes that it would be an introduction to a music series.
"I really liked to see that everyone was being very supportive--cheering for each other, clapping, and listening," says Nicole.
Since Karaoke Kafe was well received, next will be a music reflection discussion. SNS guests will listen to a variety of music, then discuss what they heard, what they think it means, and what they liked and didn't like. There may be a way to work in some singing and dancing, too!
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Tutoring Students Win High School Scholarships
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Many Tutoring students reside in neighborhoods where the high schools are struggling and may have graduation rates as low as 50%. High School Scholarships enable selected Tutoring students to attend stronger Chicago-area private and parochial high schools, many of which have graduation rates near 100%. Congratulations to nine Tutoring students who will receive scholarships and become Chicago Lights Scholars in the fall! Jessica Luviano (Junior)Trinity High School for Girls
Darvell Burgess (Sophomore)Chicago Hope Academy
Taron Jones (Freshman)Chicago Hope Academy
Ke'Yannie Thomas (Freshman)St. Ignatius College Prep
Mashawnie Marsaw (Freshman)Christ the King Jesuit College Preparatory School
Montianna Sutton (Freshman)Holy Trinity High School
Ashley Dumas (Freshman)St. Scholastica Academy
Allison Matache (Freshman)St. Scholastica Academy
Kala Epkins-Henderson (Freshman)Trinity High School for Girls
Chicago Lights Scholars attend monthly meetings where they receive extra academic tutoring, complete study skills lessons, and enjoy leadership development activities. They will continue to receive financial support for each year of high school, based on their grade performance and continuing need. For more information about high school scholarships or giving to the scholarship fund, contact Tanya Uyigue, Youth Programs Coordinator
tuyigue@fourthchurch.org or 312.274.3828. |
Thank You for Helping Us
Respond to Increasing Need
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In this difficult economy, the Chicago Lights Elam Davies Social Service Center is pleased to report that it has effectively responded to increased demands in 2009 with increased services. Director Kathleen McKenzie recently released an annual report that highlighted their expansion: - A capacity-building grant from the Greater Chicago Food Depository bought new shelving for our Food Pantry, which increased its storage and allowed them to double food deliveries from GCFD and increase the number of households served.
- Distribution of bag lunches has increased nearly 25%.
- Periodic housing seminars had an increase in attendance of nearly 24% this year.
- Click to read the full report.
Your support helps make all this happen, and it is much appreciated as the Elam Davies Social Service Center seeks to serve everyone with dignity and respect.
For more information about the Chicago Lights Elam Davies Social Service Center, contact Kathleen McKenzie, Director
kmckenzie@fourthchurch.org or 312.981.3569.
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Mark Your Calendar
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Wednesday and Friday through September 17
Nia Class
10:00 a.m.
August 15
Community Nia Class "Splash Out!"
10:00 a.m.
August 28
Deep Hypnosis Class, part of the Triumph over Cancer Series
10:00 a.m.
August 29
Last day to turn in
items for the
School Supply Drive
Every Saturday
Fresh Produce is available for sale at the Urban Farm
10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
SAVE THE DATE:
November 26-28
Global Rhythms Performances
50% of ticket sales support Chicago Lights when you use ordering code: CHRP-Lights
Friday, March 4, 2011
Carnaval!
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Our Mission:
| Chicago Lights
changes
lives
one at a time by offering hope and opportunity to
individuals and
families who face the challenges of aging, poverty, and access to
education and healthcare.
To learn more, click to View the 2009 Annual Report
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