IN THIS MONTH'S FAMILY MATTERS ...
"This new Academy opening today in Pilsen will provide training to professionals in the field of street outreach to build city-wide networks, and to equip our communities with the knowledge to continue promoting non-violent practices and resilience."
- Rep. Jesús Chuy García, United States Representative - IL 4th District
Looking Back on 2023!
As we enter a new year, we're proud to look back on the accomplishments made at Metropolitan Family Services in 2023! From expansions to graduations, there were so many great moments worth celebrating. Please enjoy these highlights and join us in looking forward to Mpowering even more families this year!
A Labor of Love: Celebrating our 2023 Holiday Shoppe
A labor of love for more than 25 years, Family Shelter Service of Metropolitan Family Services DuPage (FSS of MFSD) has hosted Holiday Shoppe, an annual event to help bring joy and the spirit of the season to local families affected by domestic abuse. We thank the corporations, groups, and countless individuals who collectively supported this effort. Here are a few moments from our 2023 Holiday Shoppe!
Metropolitan Peace Academy Training & Wellness Center Ribbon Cutting
We are excited to celebrate the grand opening of the Metropolitan Peace Academy Training & Wellness Center!
Together with local elected officials, staff, and host ABC 7 anchor Val Warner, the ribbon cutting ceremony unveiled the new state-of-the-art facility. Check out this video featuring event highlights! Plus, all event photos are available to view here.
Unveiling the new Head Start playground
Our Bensenville Early Learning Center had a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its new Head Start playground!
The playground was dedicated to the memory of Darby Pool, a beloved member of our MFS family, who suddenly passed away in April of 2023. Our Early Learning program had dreamed about this playground for many years, and it is due to Darby's advocacy, collaboration, and dedication that made its funding and creation a reality.
Darby worked for Metropolitan Family Services for nearly 20 years, starting as a teacher and eventually becoming the DuPage Associate Director of Early Learning. She was passionate about the impact of early childhood education and making sure that children and families were safe, supported, and accepted. This playground is a testament to her legacy, and will provide endless opportunities for inclusion, play, and learning. It was an honor to have her family join the ceremony and help create the first of many happy memories at Darby's Playground!
New Year, New Me: The Importance of Goal Setting
Tameka Newman, a member of MFS' MLAB young professional's organization and her twin sister Taneka Newman, lent their expertise to 21 students from three Metropolitan Family Services Calumet programs, Family Works, Youth Build and Trio Upward Bound. The topic of this session in the ongoing series was "New Year, New Me: The Importance of Goal Setting". The students appreciated the sisters' 1:1 time, handouts, energy and commitment.
The Legal Aid Society is grateful to be one of only 10 network partners of Eviction Help Illinois
Funded by the Illinois Equal Justice Foundation, Eviction Helps Illinois' goal is to keep people in their homes and prevent foreclosures on rental property. Together, the grantees have helped more than 430,000 Illinoisans with their housing issues.
MFS is rewarded as McDonald's Relaunches Grant Program to Benefit Chicago-Based Youth Organizations
We are thrilled to announce MFS has been awarded a grant through the second annual Chicago Community Impact Grants Program. Thanks to this funding, we will be able to provide youth and their families with the wraparound care needed to overcome barriers to successfully participating in employment programming. We are honored to be part of this incredible group of Chicago nonprofit organizations, selected by McDonald's Corporation Headquarters and ChiTrust. To learn more, check out McDonald's full announcement.
President & CEO Ric Estrada listed in Crain's "Who's Who"
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