The Chicago Plan focuses on leveraging volunteers in existing programs for youth and workforce readiness. However, through the focus groups and surveys that we conducted, two pressing concerns were voiced: 1) non-profits are understaffed and cannot take the time to recruit and train volunteers, and 2) organizations that would greatly benefit from the use of volunteers don’t know how to go about using them in a valuable way.

To help non-profits solve this challenge, we will help build their volunteer capacity by placing a VolunTEAM member within the organization. VolunTEAM members are retired adults, and semi-retired adult professionals, managed by Executive Service Corps, who will individually work with each community organization throughout the 9-month period.

They will act as volunteer “consultants” given the task of helping to assess and strategically grow the organization’s capacity for volunteerism including: board service, skills-based, pro bono, and hands on volunteering.  Building organizational and volunteer capacity allows non-profits do more of the good and important work they are already doing in the community.

OGDC will also be an advocate for the non-profit sector, connecting this charitable work with different stakeholders. Our ultimate impact: to amplify and increase impact of Chicago non-profits.  

Education Initiative: Success Coaches

The path that leads a child from birth through a postsecondary credential and into a career should be guided by a seamless educational system that helps children access opportunities and find lifelong careers. Yet today, there are many places along that continuum where Chicago’s children get lost – and in astonishing numbers. Despite some progress at all points, improvements in performance have come slowly, and not at a rate that will allow Chicago’s youth to participate in a global economy.

To prepare students to meet academic success milestones include reading proficiently by third grade, high school and college readiness, and career planning, OGDC aims to activate and mobilize resident volunteers to support students along this spectrum, from reading at a third grade level to college enrollment.We will work to promote aSuccess Coaches initiative though media and marketing efforts, to recruit a larger, diverse pipeline of volunteers to focus their energy on helping meet this challenge.

Volunteers will complete activities such as reading with third-grade students, mentoring middle-school students and assisting high-school students with financial aid and college applications. Our ultimate impact: College is a realistic option for more students in Chicago.

The SBDF fund is meant for small business opening or operating their business in the City of Chicago. If your business is less than 500 employees and has revenues of less than $5 million and meets other basic requirements, you may pre-qualify for a loan.

Program Overview PDF

Frequently asked questions PDF 

The Asian Human Services Family Health Center is now offering affordable dental care for your children. AHSFHC’s mission is to provide culturally competent and linguistically appropriate quality and compassionate health care services to the Asian American and all other underserved or underprivileged communities in metropolitan Chicago.

The AHS Family Health Center provides quality primary care services to immigrants and refugees, and other medically underserved residents on Chicago’s North Side. Our staff speaks Vietnamese, Urdu, Hindi, Gujarati, Thai, Tagalong, Punjabi, Somali, Spanish and Pashto.

Dental Hours are:
Monday, Wednesday from 9am – 5pm
Tuesday, Thursday from 11am – 7pm
Friday, Saturday from 9am – 1pm
Appointment needed

For more information and to view a list of services provided by AHSFHC, call 773-761-0300. Website: http://www.ahschicago.org/health_center.htm

Uncommon Ground Restaurant is committed to purchasing seasonal, locally produced food without herbicides, pesticides, antibiotics, hormones or genetically modified ingredients for their menu whenever possible. Over the years they have developed many relationships with the farmers that they buy from. The Restaurant makes an effort to visit farms on a regular basis and brings staff along to educate them as well.

Uncommon Ground offers a wide variety of green workshops and programs for all ages.

For more information and a schedule of events, please visit: uncommonground.com

Friedman Place is an assisted lifestyle community for blind and visually impaired adults.

In the heart of Chicago and accessible to its many cultural, social, and educational opportunities, Friedman Place encourages residents’ self-determination and independence. We are not just a residential facility but a vibrant community in which people with impaired vision can reach their full potential.

Residents enjoy both the privacy of their own studio or one-bedroom apartments and the richness of community. Some residents travel to work or school before joining others in the lounges and dining room to eat, talk, and participate in many activities. Others may choose to weave a cloth of many colors and textures or to surf the Internet in our state-of-the-art technology center. Medical and social services, as well as personal assistance with activities of daily living, are provided so that residents’ days will be healthy, dignified, and stimulating.

Everything at Friedman Place—from the lighting in the hallways to the exercise area for guide dogs—has been designed with the needs of the visually impaired in mind. Our staff members are caring, courteous, sensitive, and available when residents need them.

Friedman Place is open to blind and visually impaired adults, regardless of economic, race, ethnic, or religious background. We are able to offer apartments to low-income individuals.

Almost one million of the most vulnerable residents of Cook County are eligible for our services.For those who are low-income, elderly, or disabled, our legal assistance is often crucial for them to protect their homes, their employment, their public benefits, or to protect their constitutional or statutory rights.

LAF is dedicated to helping those who cannot afford legal counsel navigate the legal system and understand and safeguard their rights as a step toward achieving economic self-sufficiency for themselves and their families.

You can learn more About LAF, our Services, how to become a Volunteer, and how your Support will make a difference by exploring our website.

LAF provides legal assistance to low-income residents of Cook County in civil cases only.  We help individuals and families with problems in the areas listed below.  LAF does not do criminal, traffic, personal injury cases or wills/estates. 

• Family Problems; Domestic Violence
• Housing; Evictions
• Public Benefits; SSI; Social Security; Food Stamps; Health Law
• Home Ownership; Foreclosure
• Migrant Worker Problems
• Immigration
• Elder Law
• Crime Victims
• Consumer Problems; Bankruptcy; Medical Debt
• Special Education; Suspensions & Expulsions
• Employment Problems; Unemployment Compensation
• Children’s Law
• HIV/AIDS
• Representing  Groups
• Veteran’s Problems
• Nursing Home Problems
  

Please contact the Ward office to add your Community Group to our list.

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COMMUNITY GROUPS

Rogers Park Community Council
1530 W. Morse Ave.
Chicago, IL 60626
Telephone: 773.338.7722
Facsimile: 773.338.7774
Web: http://rogerspark.org

Hollywood-North Park Community Association
PO Box 59285
Chicago, IL 60659
Web: www.hnpca.org

Edgewater Community Council (E.C.C.)
6044 N. Broadway
Chicago, IL 60660
Telephone: 773.334.5609
Web: http://www.edgewatercommunitycouncil.org

Bowmanville Community Organization (B.C.O.)
Telephone: 866.837.1006
Web: www.bcochicago.org

North Edgewater Organization of Neighbors (N.E.O.N.)
Email: gnthr1001@aol.com

Ravenswood Community Council
1756 W Wilson Ave
Chicago, IL 60640
Telephone: 773.784.0400
Facsimile: 773.784.7841
Web: www.ravenswoodcommunity.org

West Edgewater Area Residents (W.E.A.R.)
Web: www.neighborhoodlink.com/chicago/wear

West Andersonville Neighbors Together (W.A.N.T.)
Web: www.westandersonville.org

Address:

The mission of Equality Illinois is to secure, protect and defend equal rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in Illinois. We envision a fair and unified Illinois where everyone is treated equally with dignity and respect and where all people live freely regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity or expression.

Equality Illinois belongs to all those who believe in our vision and mission. We will be accessible to and proactively engage others in our statewide community as owners of our vision and mission.

Equality Illinois believes in the value of others—their opinions and their work. It is our respect for others that builds our collaborations and partnerships.

Equality Illinois believes that everyone should have the same rights, responsibilities and opportunities afforded to them regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity or expression.

Equality Illinois believes that success comes from the highest impact approaches to achieving our vision and mission.

Our Goals

• Promote legislation to protect the rights of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) individuals with regard to safe schools, hospital visitation, inheritance rights, bereavement leave and the many other rights that affect LGBT citizens across Illinois.
• Maintain the visibility of LGBT issues in the Illinois General Assembly, the community and the workplace.
• Oppose legislation which seeks to limit the civil rights of the LGBT community, such as anti-gay adoption bills, constitutional bans on same-sex marriage or attempts to rescind or restrict the Illinois non-discrimination bill signed into law in January 2005 (SB3186).
• Expand statewide grassroots support through an enhanced communication network, technical assistance and on-site support.
• Mobilize support and increase statewide participation in the legislative process through activities such as conferences and lobby days.

Please contact the Ward Office to add your Chamber to our list.

CHAMBERS

Andersonville Chamber of Commerce
5356 N. Clark St.
2nd Floor 
Chicago,
Illinois 60640
Telephone: 773.728.2995
Facsimile: 773.728.6488
Web: http://www.andersonville.org

Edgewater Chamber of Commerce
1210 W Rosedale Ave.
Chicago, IL 60660
Telephone: 773.561.6000
Facsimile: 773.561.8584
Web: http://www.edgewater.org

Lincoln Bend Chamber of Commerce
5700 N. Lincoln Ave.
Chicago, IL 60659
Telephone: 773.334.0614
Facsimile: 773.334.2413
Web: 
http://www.lincolnbend.org

Lincoln Square Chamber of Commerce
4732 North Lincoln Ave.
Chicago, IL 60625
Telephone: 773.728.3890
Facsimile: 773.769.4855
Web: http://www.lincolnsquare.org

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