Tamika Carlton - Howard and Evanston Community Center

Hunger aid is under attack!

In Rogers Park 20.1% - 35% of community members are food insecure, according to a 2016 Greater Chicago Food Depository statistic. And since 1967, Howard and Evanston Community Center has been devoted to alleviating hunger. DONATE HERE! But recent proposals to cut and alter services provided by the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for low-income people will make survival even harder for women, children, immigrants, and unemployed adults and students in Rogers Park. In an uncertain political climate for social services, Howard and Evanston Community Center’s free hunger assistance and nutrition programs are more crucial than ever. HECC supporters have

Tamika Carlton2018-05-01T14:40:11-05:00April 11th, 2018|Emergency Needs, Health|

Register today! New food pantry volunteer orientation on April 17th or 19th

REGISTER TODAY! Sign up on the Facebook event or email Maxine Bailey at volunteers@howardarea.org to attend by April 12th! HECC relies on over 700 volunteers every year to help Rogers Park children and families receive life-saving services. One way that you can join our incredible volunteer crew is by coming to the Food Pantry Volunteer Orientation! *Check out the incredible impact of HECC volunteers in this article about an adult education tutor!

Tamika Carlton2018-04-02T14:10:19-05:00April 2nd, 2018|Emergency Needs|

Women’s group donates purses stocked with survival goods for DV survivors

When domestic violence survivors came to Howard and Evanston Community Center’s evening counseling group in Rogers Park last week, they were met with a joyful surprise– 80 colorful purses waiting for a home on their shoulder. One participant in the program, who is remaining anonymous due to safety concerns, said “It makes me feel happy that someone I don’t even know took the time to do this and has such a kind heart to give to me something that I can use everyday that I couldn’t afford on my own.” The donors are the Junior League of Evanston-North Shore, a

Tamika Carlton2018-04-06T13:30:32-05:00February 28th, 2018|Emergency Needs|

Why Education Matters by Antonio, adult ed student

Antonio is a former HECC adult education student and current Harry S. Truman College student. He excelled in HECC's ESL and GED courses, and just won a prestigious scholarship from The Seabury Foundation. The scholarship can be applied to tuition, books, transportation and day care (if needed). This is Antonio's compelling application letter that HECC turned into a blog post. Please take a read! “What is your aspiration in life?”, Moon Parker, Adult Education Coordinator at Howard and Evanston Community Center, asked me once while I was in one of my GED classes. My aspiration in life is to be happy.

Tamika Carlton2018-02-13T10:27:07-06:00February 8th, 2018|Adults & Families|

Results are in! Check out the Rogers Park Community Survey!

SPECIAL FEATURE! Written and designed by Rachel Hoffman

Tamika Carlton2018-04-06T13:31:04-05:00February 6th, 2018|Adults & Families, Children & Youth, Emergency Needs, Health|

Get inspired! Poems by adult ed students

Howard and Evanston Community Center is truly honored to present poems from students in HECC's adult education classes. Students in ESL and GED classes, who are from over 25 countries, reflected on themselves and their identities in the following simile poems. These poems were published in the 2017 Howard Line, an internal student publication featuring creative autobiographical writing. Please enjoy these poignant pieces written by farmers, dentists carpenters, business people, textile workers, accountants, engineers, homemakers, and of course, proud Rogers Park community members. Introduction written and poems designed by Rachel Hoffman

Tamika Carlton2018-04-06T13:31:46-05:00February 6th, 2018|Adults & Families|

You can get into college, but staying in college is a different game

Promise Scholarship helps HACC’s low-income and immigrant youth with higher education The Promise Scholarship, funded by and in partnership with the incredible Caerus Foundation, provides financial support for higher education for low-income youth in HECC programs. The scholarship essentially covers tuition –$40,000 for a four-year college and $20,000 for a two-year college. But in addition to the funding, Promise Scholars have the crucial support of a HECC mentor to support them. And that’s Ayesha Mirzakhail. Ayesha, HACC’s Scholarship Manager and Job Developer, manages 16 active Scholars. “I asked Scholars ‘Are you getting support?’ and they said not from family

Tamika Carlton2018-04-06T13:32:16-05:00February 6th, 2018|Children & Youth|

For people with HIV/AIDS in Chicago, HECC services save lives

In Chicago there are over 20,000 people living with HIV/AIDS. HACC’s services put Chicagoans on the path to preventing infection and living safely after being diagnosed. The center provides case management, comment education and free and/or low-cost dental clinic (Eleanor B. Westor Dental Clinic) for people diagnosed with HIV/AIDS. The dental clinic is a highly utilized resource and a rarely available one at that. Unfortunately, many dentists will not treat people with HIV/AIDS out of fear for exposing themselves and their staff to the disease. In 2017, 130 people with HIV/AIDS received dental care at HECC's clinic. Who is most impacted? Anyone is

Tamika Carlton2018-04-06T13:33:00-05:00February 6th, 2018|Health|

Tammie found a home for her children & work after her addiction

In her youth, Tammie, 41, was abused by family members and boyfriends. Tammie looked to using drugs as an escape, but became addicted. It temporarily numbed her interpersonal pain, but left pain in its wake. “It was very hard to be anything- a friend, a daughter. I could only talk about my addiction. It was terrible,” Tammie said. The guilt was enormous, she said, especially because she has three children. When she went to stay with her daughter last year, she was served an ultimatum. “If you don’t get sober, I will never speak to you again,” her daughter said.

Tamika Carlton2018-04-06T13:33:25-05:00February 6th, 2018|Adults & Families, Emergency Needs|

Practical math! Adult ed tutor & student work on math for a job in jewelry

Funding for adult education in Illinois is unstable, to say the least. Volunteer adult tutors are a lifeline for adults continuing their education. Just ask Toni (on the right), a budding jewelry designer, and her math tutor, Melanie Geyer. “I said 'My math stinks!'” Toni said, laughing. “But she [my tutor Melanie Geyer] was so encouraging. Not every teacher is like that.” Toni is 63 years old. She’s studying jewelry making and just completed a year of free adult education tutoring at Howard and Evanston Community Center. But Toni has lived many lives– perfume sprayer, assistant, retail worker, and more.

Tamika Carlton2018-04-06T13:33:55-05:00October 30th, 2017|Adults & Families|

tcarlton

About Tamika Carlton