For any press inquires, please contact Emilio Araujo, Director of Development and Communications, at earaujo@onwardhouse.org or give us a call at (773) 622-3215.
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Mission:
Onward Neighborhood House opens doors to improve lives and uplift communities through educational, economic and support services.
About:
Onward Neighborhood House is a nonprofit community hub where residents of Belmont Cragin, a sprawling community on Chicago’s Northwest Side, can access the programs and services needed to build a better life for themselves and their families.
History:
Founded in 1893, Onward Neighborhood House originally served as a church, and then as a settlement house: a school, refuge, and community center where thousands of impoverished working immigrants could access vital social services as they strove to integrate into all facets of life in Chicago, their new home. In the early 20th Century, many needed food, clothing, and shelter, and Onward House responded. Today, adult education and affordable child care rank among the community’s greatest needs; Onward House is one of the only comprehensive adult education providers in Belmont Cragin, and one of the major providers of high-quality early childhood education.
Population Served:
Onward Neighborhood House assists approximately 950 socioeconomically disadvantaged children and families (5,500 individuals) annually in Belmont Cragin and surrounding neighborhoods (Austin, Dunning, Hanson Park, Portage Park, Logan Square, Hermosa, and Montclare) through programs, services, community workshops, and events. The Belmont Cragin community is 78% Hispanic/Latino and primarily Spanish speaking, with 38% of that population born outside of the U.S.
Onward House fulfills a unique role in our community: a trusted support system that provides local residents with the resources and assistance they need. We actively engage with the community to identify unmet needs, build long-term relationships, and aim to develop holistic, co-located programs to make it possible for multiple generations of families and individuals to thrive.
