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CEO Ric Estrada speaks at Woods Fund Chicago Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation event

Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation (TRHT) Greater Chicago, an initiative of Woods Fund Chicago, is a comprehensive, national and community-based process to “unearth and jettison the deeply held, and often unconscious, beliefs created by racism”.

Southwest CILA attends Southwest NAMI’s fall banquet

The Metropolitan Southwest Community Integrated Living Arrangement (CILA) clients and staff had some luck of the Irish as they attended the farewell Southwest NAMI Fall Banquet on Friday, September 21st at the Elks Lodge in Oak Lawn.

Midway and Calumet Staff celebrate retired Commander Kenneth Johnson

It was a joyful yet tearful occasion for 007th District Police Station on the retirement of their beloved Commander Kenneth A. Johnson hanging up his badge after dedicating over 31 years of service to the Chicago Police Department.

Good News: September 21, 2018

Welcome to Good News! In this space we feature positive stories of community impact and development, relevant to the areas Metropolitan serves or the programs we offer.

Calumet Annual Meeting honors the Center’s community

Metropolitan Calumet’s Annual Meeting on Friday, September 14 celebrated the people who empower the Center, and by extension, the children and families we serve.

Sea Of Orange canvasses North Side in a Block Blitz

About 50 volunteers went door-to-door, speaking with people in more than 500 homes.

Rita Lopez Brosnan chats with Wheaton Mayor Michael Gresk

Rita Lopez Brosnan, Executive Director of Metropolitan DuPage, talks with Mayor Michael Gresk about our DuPage Center’s programs and community engagement on the City of Wheaton’s “Chat with the Mayor” series.

Chicago Cubs recognize Metropolitan CEO Ric Estrada

Our President and CEO Ric Estrada has been named by the Chicago Cubs as their 2018 Roberto Clemente Award winner!

Back to School Fair offers info & resources on children’s health

Metropolitan’s Healthy Minds – Healthy Children – Healthy Chicago (H3) program, in coordination with other members of the Englewood Clinic Coalition, spearheaded a hugely successful 3rd annual Back to School Fair!

Building a Trauma-Informed City: find a training near you

In a collaboration with the City of Chicago to build a Trauma Informed City, we at Metropolitan are facilitating several “Trauma Informed Care 101” workshops throughout September across our Chicago locations.

Thank you to our outgoing and incoming DuPage Community Board Chairs!

The outgoing chair, Marcie Peterson, and the incoming chair, Bill Jennrich, share their experiences working with Metropolitan DuPage.

Mariachi at Midway!

Our Midway Learning & Wellness Center’s kids and families enjoyed a Mariachi concert as part of our Words to Grow On project!

Erikson Institute Executive Fellows Service Day

Preschoolers at Metropolitan’s North Children’s Center and Midway Learning & Wellness Center recently welcomed a few new friends for the morning: members of Erikson Institute’s current cohort of McCormick Foundation Executive Fellows.

Good News: August 10, 2018

Welcome to Good News! In this space we feature positive stories of community impact and development, relevant to the areas Metropolitan serves or the programs we offer.

Let’s Play Ball: Metropolitan’s softball team made the playoffs!

Metropolitan’s softball team is in the playoffs of Chicago’s nonprofit softball league!

DuPage ECE Programs Plan for a Brain Smart Start to the 2018-2019 School Year

Recently our DuPage early childhood programs sent representatives to the “Elevate Social Emotional Learning: Start Strong with Conscious Discipline the First Six Weeks” conference in Orlando, Florida.

Happy 30th Anniversary, Metropolitan Southeast Chicago!

Decorations at Metropolitan Southeast’s 30th Anniversary celebration featured “I love my Community School because…” signs made by students in the center’s Community Schools program, showing guests what a difference they’re making in the lives of kids in the surrounding neighborhoods by supporting the program.

Good News: July 27, 2018

Welcome to Good News! In this space we feature positive stories of community impact and development, relevant to the areas Metropolitan serves or the programs we offer.

Little YOUth Dental Expo shares smiles and dental education

Our DuPage Center’s recent Little YOUth free dental expo engaged children and families in our early learning programs with dental health!

Midway Learning & Wellness Center has a garden growing!

Children at our Midway Learning & Wellness Center are growing in more ways than ever – by contributing to a new garden at the center!

Spotlight On: Bowen High School, Southeast Community Schools Partner

“Were it not for the Community School programs at Bowen, some of our students wouldn’t be here and we know for a fact, some of our graduates, wouldn’t have graduated, were it not for the Community School Programs at Bowen.”  – Bowen High School Principal Priscilla Horton

Meet Vanessa Schwartz, Southeast Center Director

Vanessa Schwartz was born and raised in Southeast Chicago. “I love that community,” she says. “That community has been my home forever, it’s always been my heart and soul.” Learn more about Vanessa and the 30th Anniversary celebration she’s planning for Metropolitan Southeast.

Good News: July 13, 2018

Welcome to Good News! In this space we feature positive stories of community impact and development, relevant to the areas Metropolitan serves or the programs we offer.

Miracle on 103rd Street event highlights Metropolitan Calumet

On Thursday June 14th, the Metropolitan Family Services Calumet Center celebrated its “Miracle on 103rd Street” Investment Appeal by hearing from Executive Director Audrena Spence, board members, and youth.

Meet a new cohort of Parenting Fundamentals graduates

The graduates of Metropolitan’s Parenting Fundamentals program devoted two hours each week for 10 weeks to learning positive parenting skills. See the smiling faces of our most recent cohort of parent graduates.

Good News: July 6, 2018

Welcome to Good News! In this space we feature positive stories of community impact and development, relevant to the areas Metropolitan serves or the programs we offer.

Parenting Fundamentals program celebrates parent graduates

Our Parenting Fundamentals program hosted an appreciation event at the Midway Learning & Wellness Center to celebrate the conclusion of the most recent session of its Parent Leadership Program.

Calumet staff brings the Sea of Orange into the Roseland community

Our Message was loud and clear!
Our Motives were effective!
Our Mission was accomplished!
We are Metro!

Metropolitan Peace Academy Graduation honors street outreach workers

Twenty-four of Chicago’s top street outreach experts – those specializing in diffusing street violence – were the first to graduate from the Metropolitan Peace Academy, June 27th at Soldier Field’s United Club.

Good News: June 29, 2018

Welcome to Good News! In this space we feature positive stories of community impact and development, relevant to the areas Metropolitan serves or the programs we offer.

End of the School Year at Midway Children’s Center

Happy end of the school year from Midway Children’s Center! Our staff organized a celebration with games galore for our littlest learners.

Midway Learning & Wellness Center celebrates dads

After a successful Day to Celebrate Moms, our Midway Learning & Wellness Center spread the love among the dads involved at the center!

Crain’s Chicago Business: Why Chicago’s violence interrupters need their own training academy

Communities Partnering 4 Peace (CP4P) Director Vaughn Bryant and Institute for Nonviolence Chicago‘s Chris Patterson discuss our Metropolitan Peace Academy’s work in professionalizing street outreach for Crain’s Chicago Business’s series on approaches to reducing gun violence.

ACT Now hosts 1871 panel on STEM in afterschool

On Wednesday, June 20th ACT Now hosted a panel discussing the importance of STEM programming in the afterschool space. Attendees included representatives from the STEM industry, afterschool programming and much more.

Midway Learning & Wellness Center celebrates moms

Our Midway Learning & Wellness Center recently hosted Celebrate Mom Day!

Young Fathers celebrates the program’s empowering dads at 4th Annual Awards Banquet

At the 4th annual awards, Program Director Doug Brown and Case Managers Nathan Wright and Edgar Barba were joined by Metropolitan CEO Ric Estrada and Young Fathers program benefactor Gary Gerst to present awards for three standout fathers and two community partners.

Peek inside Metropolitan’s Community School program at Kennedy High School!

Emily Hendricks, Resource Coordinator for Kennedy High School, shares a few photos of the students and families involved with our Kennedy Community School programs in action.

In expanding Early Childhood Education services, Metropolitan promotes two Directors of Early Learning

As the needs of our children and families we serve grow more complex, Metropolitan is evolving to meet those needs; we’re working with more community partners, opening more classrooms, and adding more home visiting services.

Meet the students and teachers of our Hernandez Community Schools program!

We explore Metropolitan’s Community Schools program at Hernandez Middle School through the eyes of Jose Gutierrez, Resource Coordinator at Hernandez.

Good News: June 8, 2018

Welcome to Good News! In this space we feature positive stories of community impact and development, relevant to the areas Metropolitan serves or the programs we offer.

Science Night at Midway’s Learning & Wellness Center

Father involvement STEM-med from a recent Science Night at our Midway Learning & Wellness Center!

West Monroe Partners volunteers beautify Midway Children’s Center

Staff from West Monroe Partners, including Metro Board member Patrick Peterson, spent an afternoon beautifying our Midway and Midway Children’s Center as part of the business and technology consulting firm’s National Day of Change.

Good News: June 1, 2018

Welcome to Good News! In this space we feature positive stories of community impact and development, relevant to the areas Metropolitan serves or the programs we offer.

Congratulations to Metropolitan’s Employee Recognition Award winners!

Metropolitan recently honored our employees across programs and centers at the annual Employee Award Luncheon. Congratulations to all our awardees and nominees, as well as our Service Award recipients, for your hard work on behalf of Metropolitan Family Services!

DuPage Center opens new Bensenville Early Childhood Center

Our DuPage Center recently cut the ribbon on its new Bensenville Early Childhood Center!

Good News: May 25, 2018

Welcome to Good News! In this space we feature positive stories of community impact and development, relevant to the areas Metropolitan serves or the programs we offer.

NIU’s Harmelodics visit DuPage’s Addison Children’s Center

The children and parents at our Addison Children’s Center were recently treated to a visit by the Northern Illinois University Harmelodics!

Substance Abuse & Prevention Program recognizes National Prevention Week

Our North Center’s Substance Abuse & Prevention Program recognized National Prevention Week by engaging youth in the community around drug abuse prevention!

Good News: May 18, 2018

Welcome to Good News! In this space we feature positive stories of community impact and development, relevant to the areas Metropolitan serves or the programs we offer.

Happy Mother’s Day from North Center’s Community Schools program!

Students from our North Center’s Community Schools partner Reinberg Elementary spent an afternoon writing Mother’s Day cards for their moms – but they didn’t stop there. The students also wrote empowering notes for mothers in our community.