About Us
Centro Comunitario Juan Diego (CCJD) is a grassroots organization located in Southeast Chicago and serving the
people of the South Chicago neighborhood(83rd to 95th Street, South Chicago Avenue to Lake Michigan.) It
originated in the mid -1980s when a group of eight Latino women began meeting as a Christian Base Community
(CBC). Emboldened by their faith and compelled by the myriad of societal problems they saw around them, they
committed themselves to the work of social and economic change.
people of the South Chicago neighborhood(83rd to 95th Street, South Chicago Avenue to Lake Michigan.) It
originated in the mid -1980s when a group of eight Latino women began meeting as a Christian Base Community
(CBC). Emboldened by their faith and compelled by the myriad of societal problems they saw around them, they
committed themselves to the work of social and economic change.
At first, they joined committees for school reform and for better
health services, and they helped to institute block-clubs to increase
neighborhood safety. "We started in the local high school," Maria
Urrutia, one of CCJD's founders and the volunteer coordinator of
Juan Diego's "Mujer a Mujer" breast cancer initiative, remembers.
"We began to take action as we noticed that our children in fourth
grade could not read or write, that the teen-pregnancy level
skyrocketed and that only 40 percent of teenagers graduated from
high school. It was, and continues to be, a depressing situation."
According to the "2003 School Report Card," the drop out rate at
Bowen High School is 39.5", indicating that the graduation rate is
improving, but remains low.
health services, and they helped to institute block-clubs to increase
neighborhood safety. "We started in the local high school," Maria
Urrutia, one of CCJD's founders and the volunteer coordinator of
Juan Diego's "Mujer a Mujer" breast cancer initiative, remembers.
"We began to take action as we noticed that our children in fourth
grade could not read or write, that the teen-pregnancy level
skyrocketed and that only 40 percent of teenagers graduated from
high school. It was, and continues to be, a depressing situation."
According to the "2003 School Report Card," the drop out rate at
Bowen High School is 39.5", indicating that the graduation rate is
improving, but remains low.
By 1993, when Centro Comunitario Juan Diego set up shop on current Executive Director Olivia Hernandez's front
porch, many of the Spanish-speaking residents of South Chicago were openly expressing their sense of outrage and
despair at their cultural, linguistic and economic isolation, especially those most vulnerable to exploitation; the
undocumented. Then as now, the underlying goal of all their efforts was a recognition for the need to develop
self-empowerment and self-determination, especially among women in the Latino Community. In 1994, Centro
Comunitario Juan Diego was incorporated in the state of Illinois, and in 1996 it obtained the 501(c) (3) not -for-profit
status. In the years since, the number of its staff and volunteers has grown from eight to more than 70.
porch, many of the Spanish-speaking residents of South Chicago were openly expressing their sense of outrage and
despair at their cultural, linguistic and economic isolation, especially those most vulnerable to exploitation; the
undocumented. Then as now, the underlying goal of all their efforts was a recognition for the need to develop
self-empowerment and self-determination, especially among women in the Latino Community. In 1994, Centro
Comunitario Juan Diego was incorporated in the state of Illinois, and in 1996 it obtained the 501(c) (3) not -for-profit
status. In the years since, the number of its staff and volunteers has grown from eight to more than 70.
| CCJD's mission is to promote leadership in the community in order to promote positive social change, while serving those in need. Our programs and services embrace four focus areas: |
| Health care All of the poor in America have a difficult time obtaining adequate medical services, but these difficulties are multiplied by the language barrier and isolation in our community. Since 1994 we have implemented the health promoters, promotoras de salud, model of bringing health education to people in the community. We bring experts, such as the American Red Cross, the Chicago Department of Public Health, Mujeres Latina en Accion, and many others to train local residents on health care and social issues. They are then encouraged to spread their knowledge through presentations and CCJD's home visit home visit program., Una Visita Cuenta. This knowledge empowers community residents through helping others and has created many active informed leaders. |
| Family Literacy Recognizing that education is key to success of both adults and young people, our family literacy program focuses on the needs of the whole family in lifelong learning. For adults we offer English as a Second Language classes. For children we have an after school tutoring and mentoring program that supports the children's school work and offers extra help in ESL and extracurricular activities with a supportive mentor. |
| Community Organizing and Human Rights Since Arnold Mireles became a part of CCJD, community organizing and human rights have been an important part of our agenda. After Arnold's murder in late 1997 by a slum landlord he had fouht against, we have continued his work and his legacy through the Arnold Mireles Human Rights project. |
| Social Services Our social service programs, such as the food pantry and free clothing help families in crisis, and are an important entry point into involvement in our center. CCJD operates in coordination with many foundations, private enterprises, social agencies, and local government to bring much needed social services to our community. |
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