Author: Cora Butrum

Christopher House Elementary School Family Advocates: Our Role and Our Heritage

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Christopher House is built on a two-generation model that meets the needs of our scholars and families, both in and outside of the classroom. This vital work extends across all three of our campuses – Belmont Cragin, Uptown, and Logan Square – and at Christopher House Elementary School (CHES), it would not be possible without the dedication, compassion, and expertise of Family Advocates Diana Villalba and Lesly Lopez.

Joining Christopher House at the height of the pandemic in 2021, both Diana and Lesly were immediately drawn to the empathetic and holistic support offered to the families of our scholars. With Diana’s degree in Psychology and Child Advocacy Studies, and Leslie’s in Human Services and Psychology, both were eager to find the right opportunity that would allow them to have an impact on the lives of their community members. Both Family Advocates have a deep and personal feelings that pulled them toward Christopher House and t they knew that they had found a place they were excited to call home.

We had the opportunity to sit down with Diana and Lesly to learn more about their roles as Family Advocates at Christopher House Elementary School and how their culture, language, and traditions are essential to their work.

What is a CHES Family Advocate?

Lesly Lopez: As Family Advocates, we help families feel safe and comfortable so that they can be open with us and trust us to help get whatever assistance they need. We build relationships with the parents and caregivers of our scholars and help connect them with any additional resources that they might need – we help with everything from obtaining financial assistance and applying for SNAP, to acquiring Ventra cards and accessing immigration-related resources.

Diana Villalba: Our goal is to create and maintain stability within the home. Many of our families have experienced racial trauma and encounter barriers daily. We do whatever we can to respond to their needs and find resources that will help, whether that is inside our walls or within the surrounding community. We also act as a bridge between families and our teaching staff. If parents need assistance communicating with their child’s teacher, or if a teacher notices a student in need of additional support, they reach out to us, and we help facilitate connections and conversations.

Why is our two-generation model important for our scholars and their families?

Diana: My family is from Mexico, and we lived in Los Angeles before moving to Chicago. As a child, I watched my family struggle. My dad worked a lot and when my mom wasn’t working part-time, she was with us. She spoke Spanish, and she had a really hard time communicating with teachers or administration when she came to the school. Seeing and experiencing this for myself has helped me understand what our families are experiencing.

Lesly: I can relate to that a lot… I’m also Mexican and Latina, and my family struggled financially when I was young. We didn’t have any additional support outside of the family, and my mom also only spoke Spanish. She would do her best to advocate for me and my siblings, but because of the language barrier, she often felt unheard. Being in the role that I am now, I am very passionate about what I do because I get to offer the help and support that I wish my family had when I was growing up.

How does your identity and culture support you in this role?

Diana: We can’t support families unless they feel comfortable to be open and honest about their needs. Whatever we can do to facilitate trust between us and the parents and caregivers, we do! We primarily serve Hispanic and Latinx families here at CHES, and when families hear me speak Spanish, it automatically removes one more barrier for them. It makes it easier for them to trust me and open up without any added pressure. I just let families know that a safe space for communication exists whenever they want or need to use it.

Lesly: I agree! When parents come in and see that you are able to speak their language, it creates a sort of immediate natural connection. We can understand their lived experiences on a personal level and can relate to what they are going through. During the pandemic, some families feared that their concerns and needs were not going to be heard. But when we joined the team, we were able to quickly form strong connections and alleviate their stress by letting them know that we see them, we hear them, and we are here to help them – always.

Why is it important to celebrate the identities of our staff, scholars, families, and community members?

Lesly: In my culture, family values are deeply ingrained in everything we do. If someone is hurting, we all are, and if someone is celebrating a win, we all celebrate with them. You don’t want to lose the values of where you come from, no matter what they may be. For our students and families, it’s important they see that when they walk in the school, their traditions and identities don’t stop at the door. We do our best to bring that part of home into the classroom and celebrate it for its importance and beauty. 

Diana: For my family of five, we try to get together at least once a month and reconnect over good food, music, and dancing, but honestly, no matter how much time has passed, it’s like we were never apart. I’m also a first-generation college graduate and a proud Mexican. The two are connected! My background has helped me connect with and support families in my current role, and I think it’s really important for my nieces and nephews – and our scholars and families – to see that and to know that there are educational and career pathways for them too. Truly anything is possible.

Christopher House Celebrates its Third Graduating Class

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On Friday, June 2, Christopher House graduated its third graduating class, the Class of 2023!

This talented class was one of the first to return to a full year of in-person learning. As we continue to navigate the post-COVID climate and address both the short and long-term effects of the pandemic, the Christopher House community could not be prouder of the adaptability and commitment of our dedicated staff and scholars, which is evident in all that they have accomplished over the past year.

“This graduation day is a day of celebration – but it is also a realization that the journey continues,” Dr. Abrego, Elementary School Principal, said. “Your next adventure awaits – high school will be an opportunity for each of you to grow – to expand your friendships, enhance your learning, to grow into young adults.”

We are pleased to share that, among the graduating class, three of our scholars were awarded the Daniel Murphy Scholarship, a prestigious scholarship awarded to 150 Chicago students across the city, to attend college preparatory schools.

Additionally, 12 of our graduating 8th grade scholars have been accepted to CPS selective enrollment schools, including Lane Tech College Preparatory High School, Whitney M. Young Magnet High School, Jones College Prep, Walter Payton College Preparatory High School, Northside College Preparatory High School. This 33% year-over-year increase demonstrates the profound adaptability, resiliency, and determination of our scholars, staff, teachers, and families in today’s post-pandemic landscape.

“Today is an opportunity for you to celebrate with your teachers and friends. I want to take the opportunity to thank all your teachers – not only our middle school staff but all the teachers that have supported you on this amazing adventure. However, your constant companion on this journey has been your family. Your caregivers have sacrificed and will continue to sacrifice because they believe in you and are determined for you to accomplish your goals,” Dr. Abrego said. “Their hope and faith in you are unending!”

Christopher House is exceedingly proud of the accomplishments of our scholars, and we want to remind them that no matter how far they travel and how much they grow, our doors will always be open – Christopher House will always be a safe and loving space that they can call home away from home.

“The Importance of PRIDE” from Christopher House RIDE Committee

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The Christopher House RIDE (Race, Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity) committee promotes inclusion, equity, and diversity across our family of schools, which include Infant and Preschool, Elementary and Middle School, After School, and Parent School. The committee meets monthly to discuss issues related to race, inclusion, diversity, and equity in the news and at Christopher House, and is made up of three subcommittees – Diversity, Health Equity, and Inclusion.

DIVERSITY

Our goal is to honor, educate on, and celebrate the diverse cultures that make up the Christopher House community, including our scholars, families, teachers, staff, and surrounding neighborhoods (Belmont Cragin, Uptown, and Logan Square). 

“We are looking to support and educate our colleagues about the issues that oppressed people in our country may face, and this includes members of the LGBTQ+ community. We believe supporting education in PRIDE month is important, because PRIDE is really about identity and the right to openly express one’s identity. We need to accept people for how they identify themselves. Children, families, and staff need to understand that different people perceive themselves in different ways and that is okay. It is just as important for LGBTQ+ children to see themselves represented as it is for children of different races and ethnicities. As our children are figuring out who they are, we want Christopher House to be a place of nurturing and acceptance for them and their families. I think the same can be said for our LGBTQ+ colleagues.  There is a lot of overt oppression of the LGBTQ+ community happening around our country, and we want Christopher House to be a safe space for everyone.”

HEALTH EQUITY

Our goal is to build community and social engagement opportunities across CH schools and locations that support all facets of wellness.

“Inclusive practices are fundamental in creating supportive learning environments where each and every child feels respected, accepted, welcomed, and valued. We are working to build up a community in which all children and families ultimately have equitable opportunities, and this begins with celebrating our community members for who they are. Celebrating PRIDE month for our children, families, staff, and community is important because it is a celebration of being proud of being your authentic self. Building this confidence and feeling like you are heard and seen will ultimately positively impact the well-being and academic success of students and families.

INCLUSION

Our goal is to help foster an inclusive work culture where staff can be true to themselves, feel they belong at CH, and be celebrated and recognized for their work.

“The Christopher House Inclusion Committee was formed with the intention of creating opportunities and a platform for every member of the Christopher House community to know that not only are they a part of something, but that each individual, whether a scholar, family member, or staff member, are an integral contributor to the organization. One definition of inclusion is the practice or policy of providing equal access to opportunities and resources for people who might otherwise be excluded or marginalized. At Christopher House, it is our mission to ensure that NOBODY feels excluded and that everyone has the opportunity for equal access – this includes ALL members of the LGBTQIA+ community. The Inclusion subcommittee is continuing to work to come up with different ways to ensure that this mission is being delivered on each and every day.”

To Christopher House Teachers and Staff, Thank you!

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At Christopher House, we believe the greatest pathway for change begins in the classroom with determined, culturally responsive educators who lead with their whole heart. Christopher House would not be Christopher House without the knowledgeable, loving, and highly trained 200+ teachers and staff that work each and every day to make our halls a place of safety, comfort, and growth for the children and families we serve.

“To every Christopher House teacher, staff, and faculty member, thank you for the work that you do each day. Christopher House has an important mission and ambitious goals surrounding scholar achievement and opportunities for them and their families’ futures. It is your daily work and investments that make it all possible,” CEO Libby Shortenhaus says.

It was our true joy to celebrate our talented teachers and staff during May’s Teacher’s Appreciation Week and recognize the sincere care that they so happily and warmly provide to over 1,500 children and families in the Uptown, Logan Square, and Belmont Cragin Neighborhoods. Throughout the weeklong festivities, teachers and staff participated in many onsite celebrations – walking a red carpet, making gorgeous bouquets, eating tasty treats, and receiving free relaxing massages – which were followed by an all-staff lunch and an “implicit bias and identity” training lead by Brian Corley from Single Story.

At Christopher House, we prioritize hiring and retaining educators and staff who reflect and can share in the lived experiences of the communities we serve to support our scholars’ healthy cognitive, social-emotional, and physical development. It is their service, coupled by the compassionate and holistic support that our Family Advocates provide to our scholars’ parents and caregivers, that we ensure the long-term safety, stability, and success of our families.

“Not a day goes by when I am not in awe of the heart, mind and soul that goes into the work you – our teachers and staff – do for and in our community,” Libby says. “Thank you for bringing your strengths, dedication, and passion to Christopher House.”

Juneteenth: A Conversation with RIDE

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Christopher House’s RIDE (Race, Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity) Committee works to promote inclusion, equity, and diversity across the organization. The committee, made up of 30+ employees across our organization, meets monthly to discuss issues related to race, inclusion, diversity, and equity in the news and at Christopher House. In honor of Juneteenth, we spoke with Dominique Willingham, an Early Childhood Teacher and member of RIDE’s Diversity subcommittee, about the holiday’s significance and how it is celebrated at Christopher House. 

Q. What is your role on RIDE, the Diversity subcommittee, and how is the Diversity committee honoring Juneteenth this year?

A. I am a Delegate for the RIDE committee and I also participate in the Diversity subcommittee. I have been a member since 2020. This year for Juneteenth, we had a RIDE meeting where we had a fun educational conversation and discussion around Juneteenth. We gave background information about what we commemorate on Juneteenth and the significance of the flag and colors. We had an activity in which we had to make a flag and explain what the words and symbols mean for their flag.

Q. What is the cultural and historical significance of Juneteenth?

A. Juneteenth marks the end of slavery, the day the state of Galveston Texas got word that slavery was over, 2 years after The Emancipation Proclamation was issued by Abraham Lincoln on Jan. 1st, 1863. It marks the day that enslaved African Americans celebrated the abolishment of slavery – though still not being treated equality or equitably.

Q. Why is it important for our scholars, families, staff, and community that Christopher House honors and celebrates Juneteenth?

A. As we are a family of schools and serve a wide variety of families, it is important to highlight the history of the different cultures and people we serve and to educate others on the experiences of the families and staff here at Christopher House. There are events in history that have shaped and impacts the families and staff we serve. Bringing that fact to light will help us have a better understanding of our families and ultimately better equip us to deliver culturally responsive care. As lifelong learners, we are dedicated to learning about, respecting, and embracing all members of our community.

Q. How does Christopher House commemorate this holiday within our classrooms, halls, and community?

A. In my Early Childhood classroom, we talked about how we get information to people in the past and present. We talked about how people of color have been treated differently throughout history and why. We read books like Its ok to be different by Todd Parr, and All Are Welcome by Suzanna Kaufman and Alexandra Penfold, and we even role-played scenarios to help gain a deeper understanding. The RIDE committee met to discuss the importance of Juneteenth, how we can honor the holiday in our different roles throughout the organization and were provided additional materials and resources to help our staff and community practice allyship – resources like educational links, books, and interactive songs!

Q. How can community members, staff, and teachers practice allyship when teaching and/or reflecting on Juneteenth?

A. First, be informed and educated on the issue. You can speak up and out about injustice and ways to change it. You can look within your own life and reflect on how you can be more mindful of your own biases. Be active in an organization or place that supports and helps people. Read books and educate children on the topic to make a difference in the future and so history doesn’t repeat itself, and support businesses that are geared toward it.

To learn more about the history of Juneteenth, click here.

Congresswoman Delia C. Ramirez Visits Christopher House

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On May 5, 2023, Christopher House welcomed Congresswoman Delia C. Ramirez, State Representative for the 3rd Congressional District of Illinois, to our Stewart Campus located in Belmont Cragin to share our work in the community and our continuum of an education model that serves scholars and their families from birth through the 8th grade.

“I am thankful to Christopher House for welcoming me to tour their Stewart Campus in Belmont Cragin and hear from their leadership and early childhood team about the impact they have on the families of our communities. Having a community partner like them helping our children and families access quality early learning is truly inspiring,” said Congresswoman C. Delia Ramirez.

Christopher House leadership gave Congresswoman Ramirez an interactive tour throughout our Stewart campus and highlighted our holistic approach to education and family support, the dedication of our staff and teachers, and the positive and inclusive learning environment we strive to maintain for all scholars and families.

“Every child deserves quality early learning and care, every family deserves for it to be affordable,” said Congresswoman Ramirez, “and I will do everything I can in Congress to support Christopher House in this critical work!”

Christopher House Hosts $50 Billion Illinois State Budget Signing

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Christopher House was honored to host Illinois State Governor JB Pritzker and members of the General Assembly for today’s signing of the 2024 state budget, one of the largest budgets to date.

While balancing fiscal responsibility and compassion for the community, the new state budget will allow for increased funding to support early childhood, elementary, and higher education, as well as health and human services and homelessness prevention supports.

“Thanks to our firmer fiscal foundation, we have been able to put billions of dollars back into the pockets of Illinois taxpayers while investing in our future,” IL State Governor JB Pritzker said. “Our budgets have allowed thousands more students to stay in Illinois because they can afford a college degree. Balanced budgets have allowed us to modernize our infrastructure, build nation-leading clean energy production, attract industries of the future like quantum computing, and prioritize childcare for working families and our youngest children.”

The new Smart Start Illinois program, a $250 million initiative enacted to stabilize, support, and grant more accessibility to early childhood education, will help support Illinois’ Early Childhood Education programs, like Christopher House and our Early Childhood Education program that services over 300 scholars, from six weeks to 5 years old, across our three campuses located in Belmont Cragin, Uptown, and Logan Square. Smart Start Illinois’ aim is to increase preschool availability, advance Kindergarten readiness to actively prepare our youngest scholars for a lifetime of learning, and invest in the Early Childhood Education workforce. Christopher House too recognizes that high-quality education starts with our teaching staff and will subsequently continue to prioritize pay equity for our teachers and staff.

Over $1 billion dollars have been dedicated to supporting the families of our community through much needed health, human, and homelessness prevention services. Christopher House is heartened by the advancements made in community support by our State Government and the widespread recognition of parents as a child’s first teachers. Our organization operates using a two-generational model that works at the nexus of education and social services by providing holistic support to the families of the children we serve through Family Advocates, counselling services, parent workshops, and additional family supports, like three on-site food pantries and emergency rental assistance.

“We were honored to host today’s budget signing, and we are really excited about what additional funding will mean for our children and families,” Christopher House Chief Executive Officer Libby Shortenhaus said. “Early investments reduce spending in later years of education, reduce gun violence, and create strong communities in which people want to live and work. There are so many needs in our communities, but few are more important than high-quality Early Childhood Education.”

For more information, click here to read the full Illinois State press release.

Black History Month at Christopher House: A Recap of Events

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“Commit yourself to the noble struggle for equal rights. You will make a greater person of yourself, a greater nation of your country, and a finer world to live in.” – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Christopher House is committed to creating opportunity, ensuring accessibility, and advancing equity for every child and family we serve. This past Black History Month, our community united to recognize the history, honor the contributions, and celebrate the beautiful diversity of our Black culture.

Across our family of schools, a variety of events took place – everything from door decorating contests meant to highlight the significance of Black History, engaging and age-appropriate reading materials that discuss the importance of identity, and a live staff-viewing of Black Boys, a documentary revealing the realities of being a young Black male in America hosted by the RIDE (Race Inclusion Diversity & Equity) Committee – our scholars and staff reflected on the histories of Black culture and explored ways in which they can join the discussion. These interactive activities were joined by a live performance from the Muntu Dance Theatre, an artistic Company, who works to educate on and preserve African culture through dance, music, and folklore.

“Dance serves not only as a physical activity but one that provides connections among children and allows them to express joy and share in each other’s culture,” Adejumoke Akinbusuyi, Site Director for Christopher House Uptown, says. “Dance allows children to learn about traditions, values and experience diversity of the families in their classroom community. Celebrating culture through dance brings our children together and provides exposure to history and a bridge of cultures.”

Our After School scholars held a Black History Museum for their classmates and parents, in preparation for which they had the opportunity to delve deeper into Black histories from around the world. While our younger learners crafted traditional artwork and decorated handprints, our Youth Leadership scholars researched and presented on African countries, with many sharing their own families’ cultures and traditions.

“I feel like this event was important in helping our scholars learn about and celebrate Black heritage, culture, and history because it allowed them to display their knowledge of Black history in more ways than just writing a report or essay for school,” Brandon Adjei-Boateng, After School – School Age Worker, says. “They were allowed to showcase their knowledge in multiple creative ways.”

Throughout the month-long learning and celebrations, Christopher House organized a thought leadership speaker series that included Penny Smith, Director of Learning and Impact for the Early Childhood Policy and Leadership Academy at the Erikson Institute, Dr. Dwinita Mosby Tyler, Founder and Chief Catalyst of the Equity Project, Bryan Stokes, Education Portfolio Director for the Robert R. McCormick Foundation, and Cerathel Burgess-Burnett, Deputy Commissioner for the Children’s Services Division of the Department of Family and Support Services. Together, we reflected on the importance of education equity and the damaging impact of colonizing language, not only for academic and social-emotional development of our students, but for the overall growth of our community.

“The necessary work, the work that Christopher House Early Childhood and Youth Leadership is prioritizing, is to first acknowledge the harm and the power that these labels have, and second, to identify and decolonize the internal structures, policies, and language we use daily,” Sarah Collentine, Associate Director of Early Childhood, says. “Language matters.”

While the 2023 Black History Month may be over, the learning, remembrance, and celebration does not stop here. Christopher House continues to prioritize the identities, cultures, and stories of all children and families within our community. To learn more about the history and significance of Black History Month, see below:

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Christopher House
5235 W. Belden Ave.
Chicago, IL 60639