CONCORDIA PLACE
3300 NORTH WHIPPLE, CHICAGO, IL 60618 www.concordiaplace.org

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Organizations Filed Purposes: CONCORDIA PLACE IS A FAITH BASED, NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION WITH A MISSION TO CREATE INVOLVED COMMUNITIES WHERE ALL OUR NEIGHBORS CAN GATHER, LEARN, AND GROW." WE OFFER CHILDCARE, AFTER-SCHOOL CARE, AN EMERGING LEADERS TEEN PROGRAM AND A SENIOR WELLNESS PROGRAM. WE ARE A MULTIGENERATIONAL PLACE WHERE VARIED ECONOMIC, ETHNIC, RACIAL, AND FAITH BACKGROUNDS COME TOGETHER IN AN ATMOSPHERE OF MUTUAL APPRECIATION AND RESPECT.

THE MISSION OF CONCORDIA PLACE IS TO CREATE INVOLVED COMMUNITIES WHERE ALL OUR NEIGHBORS CAN GATHER, LEARN, AND GROW. SINCE 1981, CONCORDIA PLACE HAS STRUCTURED ITS PROGRAMS TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF LOW-INCOME AND WORKING FAMILIES. OUR SLIDING SCALE TUITION MODEL, ALIGNED WITH OUR MISSION, ELIMINATES ECONOMIC SEGREGATION AND ALLOWS CHILDREN TO THRIVE AS A RESULT OF ECONOMIC, ETHNIC AND FAITH DIVERSITY. IN 2006, WE UNDERWENT A MAJOR EXPANSION FROM A SINGLE CHILD CARE CENTER IN CHICAGO'S NORTH CENTER COMMUNITY TO A MULTI-SITE ORGANIZATION WHICH ALSO SERVES AVONDALE, LOGAN SQUARE, IRVING PARK, ALBANY PARK, AND OTHER SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES.

CHILDRENS PROGRAMSCONCORDIA PLACE CHANGES LIVES BY FOCUSING ON GROWTH AND OPPORTUNITY TO ENSURE THE COMMUNITIES THAT WE SERVE ARE A PLACE FOR ALL. WE PROVIDE ECONOMICALLY INCLUSIVE HOME VISITING, EARLY CHILDHOOD, SCHOOL-AGE 365, TEEN LEADERSHIP AND ADULT ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS, AND THIS YEAR, FORMED A PARTNERSHIP WITH ADVOCATE/AURORA HEALTH TO ADDRESS HEALTH AND WELLNESS, AND FOOD INSECURITY.CONCORDIA PLACE OPERATES FOUR EARLY LEARNING CENTERS IN AVONDALE, NORTH CENTER, RAVENSWOOD, AND IRVING PARK. WITH A BELIEF THAT QUALITY EDUCATION AND EQUITY GO HAND-IN-HAND, CONCORDIA WORKS TO MAKE QUALITY LEARNING ACCESSIBLE - REGARDLESS OF A FAMILY'S ECONOMIC STATUS. CONCORDIA USES PUBLIC FUNDING, ITS OWN SLIDING TUITION SCALE, AND, FOR FAMILIES THAT CAN AFFORD IT, CONCORDIA CHARGES MARKET-RATE TUITION.HOME VISITINGTHIS YEAR WE LAUNCHED A NEW PERSONALIZED, IN-HOME VISITING SERVICE TO EXPECTANT MOTHERS AND FAMILIES WITH YOUNG CHILDREN TO OFFER CHILD DEVELOPMENT AND PARENTING SUPPORT. THE GOAL IS TO FOSTER RESILIENCE, STRENGTHEN THE FAMILY CORE, AND HELP FAMILIES THRIVE. THIS FREE, EVIDENCE PROGRAM ASSISTS IN ENDING THE CYCLE OF POVERTY THROUGH PROMOTING POSITIVE CHILD AND MATERNAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS OUTCOMES, AS WELL AS SUPPORTING CHILD DEVELOPMENT AND SCHOOL READINESS, WITH STRATEGIES TO PREVENT CHILD ABUSE AND MALTREATMENT, IMPROVE FAMILY FUNCTIONING AND SELF-SUFFICIENCY, AND ENCOURAGE POSITIVE PARENT-CHILD INTERACTIONS.FAMILIES ENROLLED IN THIS PROGRAM RECEIVE BIWEEKLY VISITS TO THEIR HOMES BY A TRAINED FAMILY SUPPORT SPECIALIST TO PROVIDE THEM WITH SUPPORTS THAT INCLUDE ONE-ON-ONE PARENTAL TRAINING, POSITIVE PARENTING TECHNIQUES, DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE MATERIALS AND ACTIVITIES, AND OFFERING REFERRALS AND CRISIS SUPPORT AS NEEDED. EARLY CHILDHOODCONCORDIA PLACE EARLY CHILDHOOD PROVIDES EARLY LEARNING PROGRAMS IN FOUR LICENSED CENTERS FOR CHILDREN 6 WEEKS - 36 MONTHS AND PRESCHOOL FOR CHILDREN 3-5 YEARS. TWO CENTERS ARE ACCREDITED BY THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE EDUCATION OF YOUNG CHILDREN (NAEYC), A RIGOROUS, VOLUNTARY PROCESS THAT HAS BECOME THE BENCHMARK OF QUALITY. OUR TWO NEWEST CENTERS ARE IN THE FINAL STAGE OF NAEYC ACCREDITATION, CANDIDACY, AND AWAITING A SITE VISIT.MORE THAN 65% OF FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN (6 WEEKS - 5 YEARS) ENROLLED IN OUR PROGRAMS EITHER RECEIVED PUBLIC SUPPORT OR WERE LOW-WAGE EARNERS, ELIGIBLE, FOR CONCORDIA'S SLIDING TUITION SCALE. IN ADDITION, OVER HALF OF CONCORDIA FAMILIES EARN LESS THAN OR JUST ABOVE POVERTY LEVEL. OUR PROGRAMS EMPHASIZE EACH CHILD'S OVERALL DEVELOPMENT. OUR TEACHERS HAVE DEGREES IN EDUCATION, EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, OR CHILD DEVELOPMENT. WE MEET OR EXCEED STATE REQUIRED STAFF-CHILD RATIOS; USE TEACHER-DIRECTED AND CHILD-INITIATED ACTIVITIES THAT BUILD BOTH MENTAL AND MOTOR ABILITIES, TEACH SOCIAL SKILLS, ENCOURAGE POSITIVE SELF-IMAGES, AND DEVELOP SELF-DISCIPLINE. IN ADDITION, WE USE A DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE CURRICULUM THAT FOLLOWS THE ILLINOIS EARLY LEARNING STANDARDS. LEARNING THROUGH PLAY, ALONG WITH PARENT INVOLVEMENT ACTIVITIES, ARE KEYSTONES OF OUR CHILDREN'S PROGRAMS. TEACHERS CAREFULLY OBSERVE AND DOCUMENT EACH CHILD'S PROGRESS USING TEACHING STRATEGIES GOLD. AS A RESULT, CHILDREN WHO MIGHT HAVE BEEN AT RISK OF ACADEMIC FAILURE, ARRIVE AT KINDERGARTEN PREPARED FOR FUTURE ACADEMIC SUCCESS.EARLY CHILDHOOD OPERATES 10 HOURS A DAY, YEAR ROUND SO THAT PARENTS HAVE THE FREEDOM TO WORK AND PURSUE OPPORTUNITY FOR THEIR FAMILIES. WE USE A SLIDING SCALE TUITION MODEL, LEVERAGE CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (CCAP) FUNDS FOR ELIGIBLE LOW-INCOME FAMILIES, AND ALLOW WEEKLY PAYMENTS SO THAT WE SERVE FAMILIES FROM A WIDE ARRAY OF ECONOMIC LEVELS. IN FY20, WE SERVED 468 CHILDREN ACROSS OUR FOUR CENTERS.IN THE MIDST OF THE PANDEMIC SHUTDOWN, CONCORDIA PLACE WORKED HARD TO ENSURE OUR MISSION STAYED ONLINE. CONCORDIA OPENED TWO OF OUR CENTERS TO PROVIDE EMERGENCY CHILDCARE FOR FIRST RESPONDERS AND ESSENTIAL WORKERS. TO SERVE THE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES AT HOME DURING THE SHUTDOWN, CONCORDIA TEACHERS WERE INNOVATIVE-CREATING VIRTUAL CIRCLE TIMES THAT INCLUDED READING, FINGER-PLAYS, SONGS, AND MORE. TEACHERS CREATED AGE-APPROPRIATE WAYS TO DELIVER ENGAGING AND EDUCATIONAL CONTENT REMOTELY AND POSTED WEEKLY CURRICULUM IDEAS ON OUR WEBSITE TO KEEP THE CHILDREN ENGAGED AND LEARNING. "CONCORDIA AT HOME" ON THE PARENT RESOURCES WEBPAGE LAUNCHED WITH IDEAS AND RESOURCES FOR PARENTS AND THEIR CHILDREN.IN JUNE 2020, CONCORDIA RE-OPENED ALL FOUR CENTERS TO PROVIDE ON-SITE EARLY LEARNING AND PRESCHOOL FOR ALL FAMILIES AS SOON AS CHICAGO ENTERED PHASE 3 OF THE RESTORE ILLINOIS PLAN. ALMOST HALF OF OUR FAMILIES RETURNED THE DAY OUR DOORS RE-OPENED AND BY DECEMBER 2020, ENROLLMENT WAS APPROXIMATELY 70% OF CAPACITY WHILE WE ARE CONTINUE TO WORK HARD TO REBUILD IT. SCHOOL-AGE 365 SCHOOL-AGE 365 PROVIDES AFTER SCHOOL AND SUMMER CAMP ACTIVITIES THAT ENRICH THE LIVES OF CHILDREN AGES 6-12 ALL YEAR. LEARNING FOR THESE CHILDREN IS UNINTERRUPTED. WE CAREFULLY MIX LEARNING WITH SOCIAL AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES. IN ADDITION TO HOMEWORK HELP, CHILDREN ENGAGE IN ACTIVITIES AND PROJECTS WITH READING AND WRITING, SCIENCE, MATH, SOCIAL STUDIES AND ART COMPONENTS THAT ALIGN WITH THE ILLINOIS LEARNING STANDARDS. THE CHILDREN ALSO BENEFIT FROM PHYSICAL FITNESS AND HEALTHY, NUTRITIONAL SNACKS AND MEALS. IN FY20, WE SERVED 99 CHILDREN, OF WHICH OVER 80% WERE FROM LOW-INCOME FAMILIES AND 56% FROM SINGLE-PARENT FAMILIES, WITH 50% FROM DUAL LANGUAGE HOUSEHOLD. DURING THE PANDEMIC, WE RESTRUCTURED SCHOOL-AGE 365 TO SUPPORT E-LEARNING CLASSES WHILE LOCAL SCHOOLS CONTINUE REMOTE LEARNING. PARENTS WERE TORN BETWEEN WORKING TO SUPPORT THEIR FAMILY AND BEING THEIR CHILDREN'S REMOTE TEACHER. TO MEET OUR FAMILIES AND CHILDREN'S NEEDS, CONCORDIA HIRED ADDITIONAL STAFF AND INSTALLED MORE INTERNET TECHNOLOGY TO BEGIN A FULL-DAY PROGRAM. INSTRUCTORS ENSURED THAT STUDENTS LOG INTO THEIR REMOTE CLASSES ON SCHEDULE, PROVIDE GUIDANCE, TECHNOLOGY SUPPORT, AND HOMEWORK HELP FOR VIRTUAL LEARNING. IN ADDITION, CHILDREN RECEIVED A HEALTHY LUNCH AND SNACKS, AND TIME FOR ENRICHMENT, RECREATION, AND SOCIALIZATION.THIS PAST SUMMER, CONCORDIA PROVIDED FULL DAY, IN-PERSON SUMMER CAMP. EVEN WITHOUT FIELD TRIPS, STUDENTS WERE ABLE TO BE TOGETHER AND HAVE FUN WHILE ENJOYING EDUCATIONAL PROJECTS, INCLUDING GEOGRAPHY AND STEAM LEARNING. EARLY CHILDHOOD & SCHOOL-AGE 365 DEMOGRAPHICSACROSS BOTH EARLY CHILDHOOD AND SCHOOL-AGE 365, 69% OF FAMILIES ARE SUBSIDIZED THROUGH OUR SLIDING SCALE TUITION AND/OR CCAP SUBSIDIES, AND MORE THAN HALF OF CONCORDIA FAMILIES EARN LESS THAN OR JUST ABOVE POVERTY LEVEL. SIXTY-FOUR PERCENT OF THE CHILDREN ARE MINORITIES. CONCORDIA PLACE IS LICENSED FOR 186 CHILDREN IN EARLY LEARNING, 179 IN PRESCHOOL, AND 87 IN SCHOOL-AGE 365 (87 EACH IN SUMMER CAMP AND AFTER SCHOOL).

COMMUNITY PROGRAMS -TEEN LEADERSHIP CONCORDIA PLACE TEEN LEADERSHIP HELPS TEENS AGES 13-18 FROM UNDER-RESOURCED FAMILIES, TRANSITION INTO ADULTHOOD WHILE KEEPING THEM OFF THE STREETS AND SAFE FROM RISKY ACTIVITY. OVER 85% OF OUR TEENS ARE FROM EXTREMELY LOW TO LOW-INCOME HOMES; YET RUCKUS ENTREPRENEURS PROVIDES THEM PAID WORK EXPERIENCE. THE PROGRAM ENGAGES TEENS IN DEVELOPING LEADERSHIP SKILLS THAT BUILD SELF-CONFIDENCE TO HELP THEM DEAL WITH LIFE CHOICES AND CHALLENGES. TEENS HAVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR SELF-DISCOVERY AND PERSONAL ACHIEVEMENT, DEVELOPING TEAMWORK AND LEADERSHIP SKILLS, AND STIMULATE A COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY SERVICE. TEEN LEADERSHIP HAS GROWN FROM SERVING 45 TEENS FROM 12 SCHOOLS IN FY2010 TO MORE THAN 225 TEENS FROM 24 MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLS ACROSS CHICAGO IN FY2020.CONCORDIA PLACE TEEN LEADERSHIP OFFERS FOUR PROGRAMS: EMERGING LEADERS AT CONCORDIA, EMERGING LEADERS IN SCHOOL, RUCKUS ENTREPRENEURS, AND SUMMER EMERGING LEADERS OUT OF SCHOOL TIME (OST).EMERGING LEADERS: IN TWO LOCAL GARDENS, PAID TEEN APPRENTICES (14 -18 YEARS) ARE ENGAGED IN URBAN GARDENING. LEARNING THE FUNDAMENTALS OF ORGANIC GARDENING INTRODUCES TEENS TO LIFE SCIENCES AND ECOLOGY, INCLUDING GROWING CYCLES, PLANT FAMILIES, SOIL TYPES, AND ECOSYSTEMS. THEY ARE ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTAINING COMPOSTING BINS THAT DEVELOPS ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE BEHAVIORS, IN ADDITION TO AN AWARENESS OF HOW THEIR ACTIONS AFFECTS THE NATURAL WORLD AROUND THEM. IN OUR SEED-TO-PLATE INITIATIVE, TEENS RESEARCH HEALTHY RECIPES AND PREPARE NUTRITIOUS MEALS USING THE PRODUCE GROWN FROM THEIR OWN GARDENS. EMERGING LEADERS ENRICHMENT CLASS AT CARL VON LINNE CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOL: DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR, MIDDLE-SCHOOL STUDENTS (12 -14 YEARS) GET TO STEP OUTSIDE OF THE CLASSROOM WITH OUR COMMUNITY GARDEN SPACE. THIS OUTREACH PROGRAM PROVIDES LOCAL CPS STUDENTS WITH WEEKLY EMERGING LEADERS CURRICULUM CLASSES AT THEIR SCHOOL. MIDDLE-SCHOOL STUDENTS LEARN LEADERSHIP THROUGH ECOLOGY: PLANT BASICS AND GROWING CYCLES, PLANTING AND HARVESTING THEIR OWN VEGETABLES, EXPANDING VOCABULARY AND THEIR CONCEPT OF LOCAL WHILE HELPING MAINTAIN THE OUTSIDE GARDEN SPACE. STUDENTS GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE IN LEARNING LEADERSHIP FUNDAMENTALS THROUGH A VARIETY OF SERVICE-LEARNING ACTIVITIES THAT THEY CAN BRING HOME TO THEIR FAMILIES. SOME SUCH FUNDAMENTALS ARE GROWING IN LIMITED SPACE, COMPOSTING, RECYCLING AND LEARNING TO RECOGNIZE POLLINATORS.RUCKUS ENTREPRENEURS: PAID INTERNS (16-18 YEARS) OPERATE A SOCIAL ENTERPRISE BUSINESS THAT CRAFTS, PRODUCES, MARKETS, AND SELLS ALL-NATURAL BODY CARE PRODUCTS (WWW.RUCKUSTEENS.ORG). TEENS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE IN-HOUSE PRODUCTION OF SOAPS, SHEA BALMS, DEODORANTS, LIP BALMS AND FACEMASKS, USING LOCALLY GROWN HERBS AND OTHER NATURAL INGREDIENTS. INTERNS LEARN THE MANY ASPECTS OF OPERATING A SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS SUCH AS PRODUCT RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, PRODUCTION AND QUALITY CONTROL, PACKAGING AND DISTRIBUTION, SMALL BUSINESS FINANCE SKILLS OF PRODUCT COST BREAKDOWNS ALONG WITH SALES AND MARKETING. THIS YEAR, THROUGH THE BUY ONE, GIVE ONE INITIATIVE, THE TEENS DONATED MORE THAN 1200 OF THEIR BODY CARE PRODUCTS TO HOMELESS TEENS.SUMMER EMERGING LEADERS OUT OF SCHOOL TIME (OST): THE NINE- WEEK SUMMER PROGRAM TEENS (13 -18 YEARS) ASSIST IN THE PLANTING AND MAINTENANCE OF OUR TWO LOCAL GARDENS. THE TEENS LEARN ABOUT NUTRITION AND HEALTHY FOOD CHOICES BY USING THE HARVESTED PRODUCE AND DEVELOP THEIR CULINARY SKILLS. FIELDTRIPS THROUGHOUT THE AREA REINFORCE HEALTHY CHOICES AND THE VALUE OF THE LOCAL ECOSYSTEM. TEENS CONTRIBUTE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY THROUGH SERVICE LEARNING PROJECTS OF COMMUNITY CLEAN-UP WALKS, SPENDING TIME WITH SENIOR CITIZENS EACH WEEK ALONG WITH ART PROJECTS, PEACE CIRCLES AND TEEN LED DISCUSSIONS TO BUILD CONFLICT RESOLUTION SKILLS.SINCE MARCH 2020, THE TEEN PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN VIRTUAL. OVER THE SUMMER, INSTRUCTORS FOR EMERGING LEADERS GUIDED TEENS WITH COOKING ACTIVITIES, ART PROJECTS, AND DISCUSSIONS ON FOOD JUSTICE, CURRENT EVENTS, AND PEACE CIRCLES. TEENS ALSO DID COMMUNITY SERVICE CLEAN-UPS IN THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES.ADULT ENRICHMENT- ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE:CONCORDIA PLACE COLLABORATES WITH TRUMAN COLLEGE TO PROVIDE ADULT ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE (ESL) CLASSES TO HELP ADULTS BRIDGE LINGUISTIC BARRIERS. WE NORMALLY HOLD FOUR 16-WEEK IN PERSON SESSIONS WITH CLASSES THAT MEET TWO TIMES WEEKLY, BUT DUE TO THE PANDEMIC, CLASSES CHANGED TO VIRTUAL FROM MARCH 2020 THROUGH DECEMBER 2020.PARTNERSHIPSADVOCATE AURORA HEALTH COLLABORATIVETHIS YEAR, CONCORDIA PLACE AND ADVOCATE AURORA HEALTH CREATED A PARTNERSHIP, THE "AVONDALE FAITH AND HEALTH COMMUNITY COLLABORATION" TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH OUTCOMES IN THE AVONDALE COMMUNITY, INCLUDING THE SOCIAL CONDITIONS THAT AFFECT THE HEALTH OUTCOMES OF THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE. DURING THE PANDEMIC, THE COLLABORATIVE HAS ALSO ADDRESSED THE TREMENDOUS NEED FOR FOOD ACCESS, AND IN APRIL 2020, BEGAN BI-WEEKLY FOOD POP UPS TO OFFER FOOD BOXES, MASKS, AND INFANT SUPPLIES, AS WELL AS HOT MEALS AT COMMUNITY DINNERS.

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