How it Started
They are migrant people, they are asylum seekers, they are – as Chicago is calling them – new neighbors.
In May 2023, we leaned into a crisis that came to our doorstep. It was to care for the poor, the needy, the homeless, the alien. It was a challenge to either accept this new opportunity to meet the needs of people right in front of us or to look past them as if they didn’t exist. It was an opportunity to either pass by the person left on the side of the road for dead or to stop and begin to bandage wounds, interrupting what was a comfortable rhythm of life at our center.
Every one of the 11,000 men, women, and children that were sleeping on the floors of our police stations or staying in overcrowded and unsafe shelters, in a city without the infrastructure and staffing to adequately care for them, were facing significant trauma.
Who are these men, women, and children? They are migrant people, they are asylum seekers, they are – as Chicago called them – new neighbors. Many traveled for months to be here because of the oppressive conditions in Venezuela, which motivated many of them to come to the US. They walked through jungles. They endured the horrors of being intimidated and abused by the police in Nicaragua. They watched as people’s children were swept away in rivers, while trying to cross them. They ate one meal a day during their journey (if they were so lucky). Each person has a unique story, such as the woman who showed up on our doorstep having lost her husband; he sat on a curb with 20 other migrants in Texas before a car veered off the road and ran them all over, killing 8 and injuring many more.
How We Are Involved
Our initial involvement began with helping to outfit new families that were sleeping outside our local police station. Most of these families had traveled through jungles, crossed rivers, and navigated extensive dangers in cities along the way. We provided mats, blankets, pillows, clothes, shoes, strollers, suitcases, and toiletries. Our facility was open to offer showers and hot breakfasts. Local agencies, numerous individuals, and church communities donated their time and resources. This enabled us to provide basic living items, but also, connect people with medical care and other social service supports. By August of 2023, many were no longer living outside, but had been moved into local shelters.
Approximately 1,000 new residents began living in the Rogers Park/Edgewater community. As we moved into the fall and winter months, families were in need of school supplies and winter gear. Since that time, we have continued to offer a programmatic structure that includes daily breakfast, but also offers classes like ESL, Enrichment (classes on trauma, addiction, domestic violence, etc.) and Bible studies. Navigating a new country, city, culture, and language is more than overwhelming, and thankfully as an organization we have been able to continue to welcome and walk with our new neighbors.
Our Need and How to Support
As we head into the future the needs have changed. Many “new neighbors” are finding jobs and apartments and getting settled. Some of the shelters have closed or moved to other communities. The basics of what we initially helped provide (clothing, shoes, even apartment items like blankets, sheets, pillows, and dishes) are no longer “emergency” needs. A degree of stability is setting in, but finding the ability to master the language, gain job skills, and make monthly rent are part of the challenges on the horizon. As an organization, we will continue to be a place of hospitality and welcome, while also offering any resources that we can. We will continue to partner in ways that strengthen our ability to fill a needed gap by running our ESL classes, enrichment classes, and Bible study. We also plan to keep working with local agencies that have extra resources to share.
If you have questions about donating items, reach out to Natalie at Nataliem@familyempower.org.
We need your financial support. Reach out to Scott at Scottm@familyempower.org or simply click the “Donate Now” button.
- $2500 a month helps us employ two part time workers to assist in this crisis.
- $3500 a month will help us employ a regular ESL teacher to assist in this crisis.
- $1500 a month will help us buy necessary essentials as needed to assist in this crisis.
Days & Times
Currently we are serving our new neighbors 4 days a week. During these days and times we provide the families with breakfast and clothes if needed. On some of these days we are also offering ESL classes for those who are interested in learning English.
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Monday8:30-10:030am
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Tuesday8:30-10:30am
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Wednesday8:30-10:30am
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Thursday8:30-10:30am
Have more questions?
Contact our office today!
Call (773) 262-0760 or email office@familyempower.org