A New Beginning at Onward House Mariam first learned about Onward Neighborhood House when a community member mentioned that the organization offers English and Computer Classes. Curious and eager to learn, she visited and quickly found a place where she felt welcome. “I spend so much time here, almost the entire day. It feels like … Continue reading Onward House Fall 2025 Newsletter
Borderless Magazine highlights Onward House’s support for immigrant families amidst SNAP cuts
Onward House was recently featured in Borderless Magazine for our work responding to rising food insecurity and community fear amid SNAP cuts and increased ICE enforcement. The article highlights significant surges in demand at our Food Pantry and the organization’s expanded efforts to support immigrant and low-income families. Read the article here.
Onward House Collaboration with 40th Ward Featured on Telemundo Chicago
In April 2025, Onward Neighborhood House joined a pilot project led by Alderperson Andre Vasquez of the 40th Ward to support families who rely on street vending for income. As part of the initiative, our team canvassed to share information and resources with parents and children engaged in selling goods in public spaces. The goal … Continue reading Onward House Collaboration with 40th Ward Featured on Telemundo Chicago
Onward House Summer 2025 Newsletter
Onward House 2025 Gala Thank You for Making the 2025 Onward House Gala a Night to Remember! We are still glowing from the incredible evening we shared at this year’s Gala—thank you for being a part of it! In the most emotionally impactful moment of the night, an Onward House parent, leader, advocate, and member … Continue reading Onward House Summer 2025 Newsletter
Onward House Spring 2025 Newsletter
Shelly’s Story (starting on page 4) When Shelly first joined Onward Neighborhood House, she was looking for a way to improve her digital skills and open new doors for her family. She enrolled in virtual computer literacy classes during the pandemic, and her journey since has been nothing short of inspiring. Last summer, we … Continue reading Onward House Spring 2025 Newsletter
Onward House Fall 2024 Newsletter
Dear Onward House Supporters, Welcome to the first edition of our quarterly newsletter – I’m excited to share with you the incredible progress we’ve made and give you a glimpse of the great things on the horizon for Onward Neighborhood House. Our year-round Early Childhood and School Age programs had a busy summer, with some … Continue reading Onward House Fall 2024 Newsletter
PBS News Hour Profiles Onward House for Feature on Migrants Arriving in Chicago
In the run-up to the 2024 Democratic National Convention being hosted in Chicago this week, PBS News Hour visited Onward House on August 13th as part of a report on the local influx of migrants from Latin America since summer of 2022. PBS journalist Ryan Connelly Holmes interviewed participant Estefania Riera about her migration experience, … Continue reading PBS News Hour Profiles Onward House for Feature on Migrants Arriving in Chicago
Seeking Her Missing Husband, Jessica Gets Support Through Onward’s Mental Health Program
All photos by Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune Onward House has been highlighted in the news recently, both by the Chicago Tribune and WBEZ (see previous Announcement). These articles feature Onward House’s work to provide support services to the 43,000 new arrivals and asylum seekers who have been arriving in Chicago for the past two years. … Continue reading Seeking Her Missing Husband, Jessica Gets Support Through Onward’s Mental Health Program
Onward House’s Adult Education Helps Migrants Make the Transition to Chicago
Photos by Manuel Martinez/WBEZ From WBEZ Chicago 5/30/2024: “[A] new migrant named Elizabeth…wants to learn English — so she can keep up with her kids. Her oldest is a first grader on the Northwest Side and her youngest will soon be enrolled in preschool. She wants to learn English because she worries her children will … Continue reading Onward House’s Adult Education Helps Migrants Make the Transition to Chicago
Onward House Receives Major Grant through U.S. Congresswoman Delia Ramirez
Onward House is thrilled to announce that the organization has been awarded a $3,000,000 grant to build our new Community Center, which will house a Food Pantry and Rooftop Farm, a healthcare clinic in partnership with CommunityHealth, a pediatric clinic, an Illinois Welcoming Center for Immigrants and Refugees, and Adult Education classes. This project, to … Continue reading Onward House Receives Major Grant through U.S. Congresswoman Delia Ramirez
Director of Development and Communications Appears on WTTW’s Latino Voices
Viewers tuning in WTTW’s Chicago Tonight: Latino Voices on the evening of March 14th heard Emilio Araujo, Onward House’s Director of Development and Communications, speak as part of a panel on topics related to migrant shelters in Chicago. They discussed the challenges that new immigrants are facing in Chicago, including the upcoming 60-day limit on … Continue reading Director of Development and Communications Appears on WTTW’s Latino Voices
Press Conference at Onward House with U.S. Congresswoman Delia Ramirez
United States Representative Delia Ramirez (IL-3) came to Onward House on January 4th, 2024 for a special press conference “urging Congressional Leadership to finally pass an FY24 Government Funding plan that responds to the needs of American families.” Representative Ramirez has been a major supporter of Onward House’s new building project, which will allow the people … Continue reading Press Conference at Onward House with U.S. Congresswoman Delia Ramirez
Onward House Featured on CBS News
The Chicago affiliate of CBS News produced a profile of Onward House in November of 2023. Click in the image below for a preview: To watch the full report, click here: https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/nonprofit-community-organizations-migrants-assistance-onward-neighborhood-house/ And in early January of 2024, CBS Chicago interviewed Onward House’s Director of Development and Communications Emilio Araujo, for a report on difficulties … Continue reading Onward House Featured on CBS News
Onward House Major Expansion: Summer 2023 Newsletter
What began as a drop-in visit to our Food Pantry has led to Onward House securing a spacious new building. When Lyle Allen, Program Officer at The Reva and David Logan Foundation, attended one of our Thursday food distributions, he saw the space constraints of the pantry, but he also saw the potential that adequate … Continue reading Onward House Major Expansion: Summer 2023 Newsletter
A Hub For Helping: Onward Update Spring 2022
Onward House in Belmont Cragin supports immigrants by providing food, resources, English classes, childcare.
2021 Fall Newsletter
THANK YOU NOTES “My name is Jocelyn. As a child, I attended Onward House when it was located at 600 N Leavitt. I’ve had family members who have worked for the agency and I currently have my two-year-old son attending Onward House. It has truly been a positive experience. Onward House has helped us in … Continue reading 2021 Fall Newsletter
Onward House Invests in Special Education with New Leadership Position
Onward Neighborhood House is pleased to announce that it has hired Dr. Kimberly Thier for a newly created position as Director of Special Education and Quality Assurance, focusing on special education and related services to preschoolers and school age children with disabilities. This position will work with the rest of Onward House’s early childhood education staff to continually improve the overall quality of the early childhood education and youth services.
Beyond the Food Pantry: Helping with Basic Needs
My family and I give thanks to Onward House. Also to our teacher Carmen, and Santia, as well as the supervisor. Thank you for your help. As soon as we moved from Arizona, we arrived with a relative, my aunt, she helped us, she gave us a small room, we five slept in it. She … Continue reading Beyond the Food Pantry: Helping with Basic Needs