Gads Hill Center
Encyclopedia
At over 112 years of age, Gads Hill Center is among the oldest and most respected Non-profit
youth education and family resource centers on Chicago's South Side. With its headquarters in Chicago
, Gads Hill Center serves families in the Chicago neighborhoods of Lower West Side (Pilsen), North Lawndale and South Lawndale (Little Village)
with programming that provides learning support and educational enrichment, early childhood development
, and out-of-school care for children.
As the 20th century began, Gads Hill’s Lower West Side
community was populated, as it is now, by recent immigrants. Then they were Poles
, Czechs, Italians
, Germans
and other ethnic groups, who packed up meager belongings and journeyed thousands of miles to make a new life. Once in Chicago, they faced lives of hardship and deprivation. Their backbreaking labor in factories, stockyards, and construction sites fueled the city’s growth, its grand buildings and successful companies. But they came home to dark, crowded tenements. Their children went without food, without education, spending many hours in the gritty streets.
Gads Hill offered a place where families could be safe and unified, children could grow healthy and strong, and parents could build for the future. Soon after opening its doors, Gads Hill offered kindergarten, singing groups, cooking classes, a savings bank with 350 depositors, sewing clubs, and a range of activities for school-age boys and girls.
Over the years, the Lower West Side
community continued to evolve as new groups came seeking opportunity. The Lower West Side
, particularly the Pilsen neighborhood, is now a center of Latino
culture in Chicago. More than 87% of residents are of Latin American
origin, predominantly Mexican
. As the community changed, Gads Hill Center stood firm in its commitment to serve children and families in greatest need.
At the turn of the 21st century, Gads Hill Center expanded services to other communities in need. In 2002, the Gads Hill Child Care Center opened its doors to serve the families of Chicago’s North Lawndale
neighborhood, offering a tradition of hope and help to a new community of families.
More than 50 percent of the adults in the neighborhoods served by Gads Hill Center have not completed high school; a third of local school students drop out; and students are failing to meet state achievement test standards. Gads Hill Center is dedicated to the issue of educational support and enrichment.
and South Lawndale
communities. With a primarily Latino
population, most are Mexican
immigrants, living in low-income
households. With a high school dropout
rate of 32%, the lack of academic is a serious matter. By placing high priority on improving these numbers, Gads Hill Center has placed 100% of its teen graduates into colleges with financial aid packets.
Incorporating 13 components into its intensive year-long after-school program, Teen Connection provides a foundation of support that extends from middle school
through to the college
years. With a strong focus on learning skill development and social enrichment activities that support and expand world views, Teen Connection provides highly individualized and comprehensive services that promote strength-based learning that includes a comprehensive college counseling component.
When it started, Gads Hill Center’s Teen Connection program was the first comprehensive college preparatory program in teens in Chicago’s Lower West Side (Pilsen) and South Lawndale (Little Village) communities. The program offers community leadership, mentorship, rigorous academic achievement, social enrichment, and college admission activities to approximately 60 low-to-average academic achieving 7th
-12th
grade students each year (ages 13–18).
Club Learn is a comprehensive child development program. They serve at-risk six- to twelve-year-olds by providing an array of services that guide them away from gangs, delinquency, and drugs. Club Learn's structured, consistent activities are designed to help kids become active, engaged, and productive young adults.
In addition, Club Learn emphasizes technology skills by providing computer labs and computer instruction. Typically, kids involved in Club Learn don't have computers at home, and this exposure is essential to improve through familiarity, thus boosting academic and employment skills.
They also partner with local and national organizations; collaborating on the best ways to help its families break the barriers to success.
New Horizons is an early intervention program that serves at-risk middle school students. With the support of a mentor, every student is exposed to a variety of new and exciting experiences that challenge and engage the student in academic and social activities. By establishing one-on-one relationships, mentors will be able to support the student on their journey to high school, ready to perform at his/her best.
Nonprofit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
youth education and family resource centers on Chicago's South Side. With its headquarters in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Gads Hill Center serves families in the Chicago neighborhoods of Lower West Side (Pilsen), North Lawndale and South Lawndale (Little Village)
South Lawndale, Chicago
South Lawndale is located on the west side of the city of Chicago, Illinois, is one of 77 well-defined Chicago community areas. The neighborhood is predominantly Mexican.- Little Village :...
with programming that provides learning support and educational enrichment, early childhood development
Child development
Child development stages describe theoretical milestones of child development. Many stage models of development have been proposed, used as working concepts and in some cases asserted as nativist theories....
, and out-of-school care for children.
Mission
Gads Hill, a family resource center established in 1898, partners with our community to develop the assets of children, youth, adults, and families.History
In the spring of 1898, Gads Hill Social Settlement opened its doors in a former saloon in Pilsen near what is now Damen Avenue and 22nd Street. Leila Martin, a founder and the first director, was a recent widow at age 26. She had experienced hardship but also had a vision of a better world. With only limited resources and an abiding passion, she inspired many others to join her. Gads Hill soon became a settlement house dedicated to improving the entire community.As the 20th century began, Gads Hill’s Lower West Side
Lower West Side, Chicago
Lower West Side located on the west side of Chicago, Illinois, is one of 77 well-defined Chicago community areas.-Government and infrastructure:The United States Postal Service operates the Pilsen Post Office at 1859 South Ashland Avenue....
community was populated, as it is now, by recent immigrants. Then they were Poles
Poles
thumb|right|180px|The state flag of [[Poland]] as used by Polish government and diplomatic authoritiesThe Polish people, or Poles , are a nation indigenous to Poland. They are united by the Polish language, which belongs to the historical Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages of Central Europe...
, Czechs, Italians
Italian people
The Italian people are an ethnic group that share a common Italian culture, ancestry and speak the Italian language as a mother tongue. Within Italy, Italians are defined by citizenship, regardless of ancestry or country of residence , and are distinguished from people...
, Germans
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
and other ethnic groups, who packed up meager belongings and journeyed thousands of miles to make a new life. Once in Chicago, they faced lives of hardship and deprivation. Their backbreaking labor in factories, stockyards, and construction sites fueled the city’s growth, its grand buildings and successful companies. But they came home to dark, crowded tenements. Their children went without food, without education, spending many hours in the gritty streets.
Gads Hill offered a place where families could be safe and unified, children could grow healthy and strong, and parents could build for the future. Soon after opening its doors, Gads Hill offered kindergarten, singing groups, cooking classes, a savings bank with 350 depositors, sewing clubs, and a range of activities for school-age boys and girls.
Over the years, the Lower West Side
Lower West Side, Chicago
Lower West Side located on the west side of Chicago, Illinois, is one of 77 well-defined Chicago community areas.-Government and infrastructure:The United States Postal Service operates the Pilsen Post Office at 1859 South Ashland Avenue....
community continued to evolve as new groups came seeking opportunity. The Lower West Side
Lower West Side, Chicago
Lower West Side located on the west side of Chicago, Illinois, is one of 77 well-defined Chicago community areas.-Government and infrastructure:The United States Postal Service operates the Pilsen Post Office at 1859 South Ashland Avenue....
, particularly the Pilsen neighborhood, is now a center of Latino
Hispanic and Latino Americans
Hispanic or Latino Americans are Americans with origins in the Hispanic countries of Latin America or in Spain, and in general all persons in the United States who self-identify as Hispanic or Latino.1990 Census of Population and Housing: A self-designated classification for people whose origins...
culture in Chicago. More than 87% of residents are of Latin American
Hispanic and Latino Americans
Hispanic or Latino Americans are Americans with origins in the Hispanic countries of Latin America or in Spain, and in general all persons in the United States who self-identify as Hispanic or Latino.1990 Census of Population and Housing: A self-designated classification for people whose origins...
origin, predominantly Mexican
Mexican people
Mexican people refers to all persons from Mexico, a multiethnic country in North America, and/or who identify with the Mexican cultural and/or national identity....
. As the community changed, Gads Hill Center stood firm in its commitment to serve children and families in greatest need.
At the turn of the 21st century, Gads Hill Center expanded services to other communities in need. In 2002, the Gads Hill Child Care Center opened its doors to serve the families of Chicago’s North Lawndale
North Lawndale, Chicago
North Lawndale located on the west side of Chicago, Illinois, is one of the well-defined community areas in the city of Chicago.-History:...
neighborhood, offering a tradition of hope and help to a new community of families.
Programs
Gads Hill Center's programs support and empower the economically and educationally disadvantaged residents in Chicago's Pilsen, Little Village, Back of the Yards, and North Lawndale neighborhoods. Each of these communities lacks resources in education, accessible child and health care, literacy, and general safety.More than 50 percent of the adults in the neighborhoods served by Gads Hill Center have not completed high school; a third of local school students drop out; and students are failing to meet state achievement test standards. Gads Hill Center is dedicated to the issue of educational support and enrichment.
Children's Services
In 2002, Gads Hill Center opened the Child Development Center. It is situated in North Lawndale at the Center for Families and Neighbors of the Sinai Community Institute. The Center provides comprehensive pre-kindergarten services, Head Start, and child care services for 3-to 5-year-olds. Also at the Child Development Center is Club Learn, Gads Hill Center's after-school educational program for children in first through eighth grade. They provide family support service for all participants and consistently support parents in their role as their children's first teacher.Teen Connection
Beginning in 2002, Teen Connection was created in order to fill the critical need for quality educational services for the Lower West SideLower West Side, Chicago
Lower West Side located on the west side of Chicago, Illinois, is one of 77 well-defined Chicago community areas.-Government and infrastructure:The United States Postal Service operates the Pilsen Post Office at 1859 South Ashland Avenue....
and South Lawndale
South Lawndale, Chicago
South Lawndale is located on the west side of the city of Chicago, Illinois, is one of 77 well-defined Chicago community areas. The neighborhood is predominantly Mexican.- Little Village :...
communities. With a primarily Latino
Latino
The demonyms Latino and Latina , are defined in English language dictionaries as:* "a person of Latin-American descent."* "A Latin American."* "A person of Hispanic, especially Latin-American, descent, often one living in the United States."...
population, most are Mexican
Mexican people
Mexican people refers to all persons from Mexico, a multiethnic country in North America, and/or who identify with the Mexican cultural and/or national identity....
immigrants, living in low-income
Poverty
Poverty is the lack of a certain amount of material possessions or money. Absolute poverty or destitution is inability to afford basic human needs, which commonly includes clean and fresh water, nutrition, health care, education, clothing and shelter. About 1.7 billion people are estimated to live...
households. With a high school dropout
Dropping out
Dropping out means leaving a group for either practical reasons, necessities or disillusionment with the system from which the individual in question leaves....
rate of 32%, the lack of academic is a serious matter. By placing high priority on improving these numbers, Gads Hill Center has placed 100% of its teen graduates into colleges with financial aid packets.
Incorporating 13 components into its intensive year-long after-school program, Teen Connection provides a foundation of support that extends from middle school
Middle school
Middle School and Junior High School are levels of schooling between elementary and high schools. Most school systems use one term or the other, not both. The terms are not interchangeable...
through to the college
College
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
years. With a strong focus on learning skill development and social enrichment activities that support and expand world views, Teen Connection provides highly individualized and comprehensive services that promote strength-based learning that includes a comprehensive college counseling component.
When it started, Gads Hill Center’s Teen Connection program was the first comprehensive college preparatory program in teens in Chicago’s Lower West Side (Pilsen) and South Lawndale (Little Village) communities. The program offers community leadership, mentorship, rigorous academic achievement, social enrichment, and college admission activities to approximately 60 low-to-average academic achieving 7th
Seventh grade
Seventh grade is a year of education in the United States and many other nations. The seventh grade is the seventh school year after kindergarten. Students are usually 12–13 years old. Traditionally, seventh grade was the next-to-last year of elementary school...
-12th
Twelfth grade
Twelfth grade or Senior year, or Grade Twelve, are the North American names for the final year of secondary school. In most countries students then graduate at age 17 or 18. In some countries, there is a thirteenth grade, while other countries do not have a 12th grade/year at all...
grade students each year (ages 13–18).
Club Learn
In the communities served by Gads Hill Center, parents and children observe gang wars and open drug trafficking. Many experience violence firsthand, and those as young as eight are targeted for gang recruitment. Club Learn provides a nurturing, educational, and safe environment where kids can come after school.Club Learn is a comprehensive child development program. They serve at-risk six- to twelve-year-olds by providing an array of services that guide them away from gangs, delinquency, and drugs. Club Learn's structured, consistent activities are designed to help kids become active, engaged, and productive young adults.
In addition, Club Learn emphasizes technology skills by providing computer labs and computer instruction. Typically, kids involved in Club Learn don't have computers at home, and this exposure is essential to improve through familiarity, thus boosting academic and employment skills.
They also partner with local and national organizations; collaborating on the best ways to help its families break the barriers to success.
New Horizons
New Horizons is a mentoring program aimed to provide positive role models to middle school students in the Pilsen community. Pilsen ranks second among Chicago’s neighborhoods for the percentage of adults (56%) without a high school degree, and nearly one of out of three students in Pilsen drops out of high school. Also, gang presence in the area exposes students to violence on a regular basis.New Horizons is an early intervention program that serves at-risk middle school students. With the support of a mentor, every student is exposed to a variety of new and exciting experiences that challenge and engage the student in academic and social activities. By establishing one-on-one relationships, mentors will be able to support the student on their journey to high school, ready to perform at his/her best.
Adult & Community
Gads Hill Center offers its neighborhoods a place to learn, grow, and find community. They are actively seeking opportunities to enrich the families in their community and provide programming resources as well as facilities to groups.Recent awards
The following is a list of the major awards given to Gads Hill Center during the 21st century. The list was gathered from the Awards section of their latest published agency one-sheet.- 2009: Gads Hill Center was chosen by the nationally renowned Wallace Foundation as one of 14 organizations to participate in a four-year national pilot project to strengthen the financial management capacities of out-of-school-time providers.
- 2007: The United Way of Metropolitan Chicago recognizes Club Learn with a three-year commitment to significant funding.
- 2006: Club Learn is recognized by CYS and CDBGCommunity Development Block GrantThe Community Development Block Grant , one of the longest-running programs of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, funds local community development activities such as affordable housing, anti-poverty programs, and infrastructure development...
as Region 3 Youth Net’s 1st place out-of-school time program. - 2005: Recipient of the Alford-Axelson Award for Nonprofit Managerial Excellence from North Park UniversityNorth Park UniversityNorth Park University is a four-year university located at 3225 W. Foster Avenue on the north side of Chicago, Illinois in the North Park neighborhood. It was founded in 1891 by the Evangelical Covenant Church and shares its campus with the denomination's only seminary...
’s Axelson Center. - 2004: CEO Barbara Castellán received North Lawndale Employment Network’s 2004 Creating a Community That Works Award because of her “extraordinary contributions to advancing the economic stability of the residents of the community, commitment to excellence, and providing high quality service with the greatest respect to humanity.”
- 2004: CEO Barbara Castellán received Mujeres Latinas en Acción’s Maria ‘Maruca’ Martinez Community Service Award for her work in the community and at Gads Hill Center.
- 2002: Winner of the National Association for Chicana and Chicano Studies Community Award.
- 2001: Recipient of the prestigious BPBPBP p.l.c. is a global oil and gas company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the third-largest energy company and fourth-largest company in the world measured by revenues and one of the six oil and gas "supermajors"...
Leader Award for work in collaboration with the Chicago Department of Environment to provide environmental education and a “green” setting for the Gads Hill community.