eFamily - Issue 23

President & CEO Ric Estrada Honors Martin Luther King, Jr. in Address

A famous quote from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., “Life’s most urgent and persistent question: what are you doing for others?” was the centerpiece of Northwestern Memorial Hospital’s 33rd Annual Commemorative Humanitarian Awards Honoring Dr. King. Metropolitan president & CEO Ric Estrada headlined the event, delivering a moving tribute to the civil rights leader that stressed the importance of serving others.

“My life has turned out to be what it is because it was shaped by people who cared about service to humanity more than they cared about personal ambition,” Estrada said. “I am who I am because I learned from ministers, missionaries, coaches, youth workers, teachers, doctors, parents, friends and colleagues who cared more about others than themselves.” The event drew 400 attendees. Read more about the event here.

Metropolitan Unveils Inspiring New Video

Watch this new video to see the compelling stories of three people determined to overcome individual challenges and how Metropolitan’s Young Fathers Program, Adult Mental Health services and Upward Bound teen initiative made a difference. Theirs are stories of inspiration and empowerment which poignantly illustrate how Metropolitan touches the lives of those we serve. A special thanks to the Video Team at Tribune Media Group for its amazing support! Watch the video here.

Legal Aid Society Supports New Self-Help Legal Center at Courthouse in Markham, Illinois

A recent study found that more than 600,000 people require legal aid services in Cook County each year, but only 300 full-time staff attorneys are available to help. To assist with this demand, a new Self-Help Web Center for People Without Lawyers has been established at the Sixth Municipal District Courthouse in south suburban Markham. The Center will offer free legal assistance through online resources, instructional videos, and court- and community-based legal resources and referrals. Two computers and a telephone hotline to the Coordinated Advice and Referral Program for Legal Services offers free and immediate responses to everyday legal problems confronting low income residents of Cook County. Attorneys and volunteers from the Legal Aid Society will provide limited staffing at the Self-Help Center to offer additional support. Read more here.

21st Century Community Learning Center

Establishing learning centers that offer enriching educational experiences for students and support for families at schools in struggling neighborhoods is the goal of the 21st Century Community Learning Center program. Metropolitan has been at the forefront of this movement since it began in Chicago in 1996.

Community Schools provide afterschool programming for recreational activities, academic support, fine arts and life skills education for students. In addition, adult education, family nights and other parent engagement activities also are offered. Metropolitan has partnered with six new schools to establish 21st Century Community Learning Centers, bringing the total number of Community Schools Metropolitan serves to 20:

• Langston Hughes Elementary in Roseland
• Hanson Park Elementary in Belmont-Cragin
• Belmont-Cragin Elementary in Belmont-Cragin
• Mt. Vernon Elementary in Washington Heights
• Nathan Hale Middle in Crestwood
• New Millennium School of Health High School

Metropolitan and Nathan Hale Middle School Secure Community School Grant

Nathan Hale Middle School in south suburban Crestwood worked with Metropolitan to obtain a multi-year grant from the Illinois State Board of Education to establish a 21st Century Community Learning Center at the school. The program will receive $150,000 per year for three years to provide programming that encourages student development, supports families and strengthens the community.

Do you have unused tickets? Support Metropolitan through Tix4Cause!

Tired of letting tickets go unused or gift certificates expire? Now there is a solution! Metropolitan Family Services has become a member of tix4cause.com which is an e-marketplace service that turns unused tickets, experiences and events into cash donations for the organization. Selling your unused tickets and gift certificates on the tix4cause site results in a 100% tax deductible donation to Metropolitan Family Services. Just contact Liz Clark at 312-986-4225 or clarkl@metrofamily.org to donate your unused tickets! Metropolitan Family Services reserves the right to first apply ticket packages for events, special seating or one-of-a-kind opportunities to auctions at upcoming events before posting on tix4cause.

Vivian Moore to Speak at the Opening Minds Early Childhood Conference

Vivian Moore, Program Manager at the Calumet Center, is delivering an address at the 2012 Opening Minds Conference of the Chicago Metro Association for the Education of Young Children Jan. 25-28 at the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place in Chicago. Speaking to early childhood educators, Moore’s talk explores childhood exposure to violence and centers on identifying symptoms and creating awareness. This is the largest early care and education conference in the Midwest and features professionals from around the world. Metropolitan’s Safe Start program works with children up to age six who have experienced violence in their life and helps them through family support groups, mental health services and case management.

Metro Board and Midway Center Families Gather Under the Stars

Throughout the year, the young professionals of the Metro Board host Friends and Family events for client families to get together for an afternoon of family fun. The Friends of Family events allow for board members to interact with our clients and provides a fun filled field trip for kids and families from our Midway Center. On Jan. 7, members of the Metro Board and 29 students from Midway Center and their families enjoyed a day out at the Adler Planetarium. The group also was joined by members of Associate Board of the Legal Aid Society (AB LAS) for young lawyers.

Jody Kanikula Elected President of DuPage Association of Volunteer Administration

Jody Kanikula, Coordinator of Metropolitan’s In-Home Senior Respite Program at the DuPage Center, has been elected President of the DuPage Association of Volunteer Administration. The organization’s membership includes volunteer management professionals from across all of DuPage County and provides networking, training, and innovative presentations on volunteer management. Kanikula was recognized for her superior leadership abilities and dedication to providing quality volunteer services in DuPage County.

Thanks You to Our Generous Funders

The Bowman C. Lingle Trust donated $40,000 to Metropolitan’s General Counseling programs. The Dr. Scholl Foundation awarded $10,000 also benefiting General Counseling. The Colonel Stanley R. McNeil Foundation, Bank of America, N.A., Trustee donated $10,000 to the North Children’s Center.

Sign Up!