fbpx

Adults & Families

Parent perspective: Affordable pre-k means everything to a single mother

Jeannifer is a parent of a child, Sophia, at HECC's Birth to Five Early Childhood Education Program at the Sheila Reynolds Berner Family Center in Rogers Park. The Family Center provides a high-quality, affordable early childhood education for 116 children ages 0-5 years old in a full-day program. Hear from Jeannifer herself about how important this Head Start program has been for her family! I’m a Guatemalan immigrant, and moved to Chicago in 1993. I have been living in Chicago for 24 years. I came when I was 16 years old and cared for my three younger brothers while my parents worked

2018-04-06T13:37:25-05:00June 20th, 2017|Adults & Families, Children & Youth|

Armstrong El adult ed partnership helps moms be students

This year, HECC partnered with George Armstrong Elementary School in West Rogers Park to host a GED class. More space means another free class, and the students, who are majority mothers, have the childcare for elementary aged children while they study. “Partnering with neighborhood schools is a natural way to extend our mission of building self-efficacy through education into the community,” said Moon Parker, Adult Education Coordinator, and "As educators, we know that the greatest factor of children's success are their parents." Fatima (above) is a mother and student in the class. She came to the U.S. from Morocco in

2018-04-06T13:36:14-05:00June 5th, 2017|Adults & Families, Children & Youth|

You are helping Adeola become a nurse and support her family!

Adeola, or “Addy” as her patients call her, immigrated to America from Nigeria with the dream of helping sick people become healthy. After working with the HECC Employment Resource Center, Adeola received tuition aid for nursing school and mentorship through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. It covered $8,000 of her $16,000 tuition. As a registered nurse, she can make up to $20 per hour and afford the costly necessities for a family of four with her husband. “[HACC’s support] is really helpful for us immigrants...now the children are happy and doing well. Whatever they need for school, I can

2017-06-26T12:53:52-05:00May 1st, 2017|Adults & Families|

Adult ed is crucial for my success- GED students write to IL State Reps!

Students from HACC's Adult Education program have written over 50 letters to their state representatives to advocate for their own education and spread awareness of the need for free adult basic education in low-income and marginalized communities. They sent letters to: Governor Bruce Rauner, Senator Richard Durbin, Senator Tammy Duckworth, Representative Jan Schakowsky, and Representative Kelly Cassidy. Hear them out! Read their letters, share this post, and share student voices that are so often erased and diminished.  Kafayat Adebiyi (above) Representative Schakowsky "Adult education is very important to me because I wanted to go to college in my country in Nigeria. Then my mom

2019-03-13T00:19:18-05:00April 27th, 2017|Adults & Families|

From addiction to ambition: Anna found a new start at the CTA

Anna sought help at HACC’s Employment Resource Center and earned an internship with the CTA Second Chance Program. In 2016, she was offered a full-time job! As she nears her first year on the job, HECC celebrates her success. Anna lives with her elderly mother. Her full-time job as a bus cleaner at the CTA means that she can support them both. “Everytime I look at her eyes I can see her getting older,” Anna said. “She’s gonna need me. Now, it’s my turn [to support her].” This has been a long road. As a child, Anna said she did

2017-06-26T13:07:41-05:00April 13th, 2017|Adults & Families|

Richard broke the cycle of incarceration to be a better father

Today, Richard has a job and a place to live, and gets to spend time playing with his 12-year-old son in Willye B. White Park on Howard Street. But for over a decade, he had some very dark times in and out of prison suffering from a heroin addiction. He burglarized houses and sold drugs to survive. At the time, it seemed like the only way to get through life. His mother was addicted to drugs neglected him. “I was bright. I finished school. But I didn’t want to be in that house, so I went outside [to the streets],”

2018-04-04T20:39:51-05:00August 1st, 2016|Adults & Families|

Immigrant and refugee families took a field trip to the Chicago Botanic Garden to bond, learn, and play

  Angelica Andrade (pictured above), a GED class student, came with the HECC Family Literacy program to the Garden with her two children, Manuel (pictured above), 3, and Cristina, 8. They enjoyed every minute of it– from searching for dragonflies and lily pads to picnicking by the fountains. Yesenia Vargas, the Family Literacy Coordinator, said that summer field trips broaden horizons and keep families engaged in the program, which offers parenting classes and childcare during ESL and GED courses. Field trips are often financially out of reach for immigrant and refugee families, so “they are very grateful when these opportunities come

2017-06-26T13:22:17-05:00August 1st, 2016|Adults & Families, Children & Youth|
Go to Top