Dr. Tonja Williams has had a passion for working with individuals with disabilities, their caretakers and community for nearly 30 years. In fact, she always keeps a pen and paper handy at her bedside to jot down ideas on how she can best serve her clients. “Oftentimes I’m awakened with different thoughts: ‘How could I Read More

By: Lori Kaufmann, chaplain educator with Advocate Aurora Health In one sense with everything reopening and people enjoying reconnecting and doing some of the things they haven’t been able to do…it has felt a bit jubilant. Yet during the months of COVID, there has been a great deal of loss. The question we face now Read More

by Nancy Romanchek BSN, RN, CHPN, MPH My favorite description of Islam is as a clear, racing river which flows through many countries, taking on the color of the stones beneath the surface as it goes. Being a part of this racing, ebbing, everchanging flowing stream of living water is exactly what it is like, Read More

  Thanks to an outpouring of love and support from community members, 800 women at risk for isolation received a special card on Mother’s Day. The Southland Gratitude Room Mother’s Day Card Project, established by Patricia Jackson, Community Health Worker with Advocate Aurora Health, exceeded expectations, with organizers receiving more cards than anticipated. “We wanted Read More

By Ashley Whitaker and Alyson Capp Advance Care Planning helps individuals think intentionally about their beliefs and what gives their life meaning and beauty. Faith and spirituality are often such sources of meaning for our lives. The process of Advance Care Planning helps us articulate what is most important and provides a firm foundation for Read More

After a group of youth carjacked her at gunpoint last July, Alyssa Blanchard was so traumatized, she feared going outside, even to pick up a package from her front porch. “For a long time, it was difficult to be around children who weren’t related to me,” said Alyssa, a teacher and native of Chicago’s Southeast Read More

Honor survivors of gun violence on National Gun Violence Awareness Day, June 4, and Wear Orange weekend, June 5-6. On January 21, 2013, Hadiya Pendleton, a high school student from the south side of Chicago, marched in President Obama’s second inaugural parade. One week later, Hadiya was shot and killed on a playground in Chicago. Read More

By: Suhad Tabahi, PhD, and Itedal Shalabi, MSW, Arab American Family Services Any form of violence against children is a worldwide social problem and one that continues to negatively impact families from every culture. Child abuse in the Arab American community has not received the attention warranted to restore healthier childrearing practices and promote stronger families. Read More

By Samantha Spolter, MSW, Safer Communities Coordinator and Dawn Levin, Community Liaison, Jewish Children and Family Services Chicago It has now been over a year for many families that have been sheltering at home and spending unprecedented amounts of time together. Anxiety about health, education, and finances have been high. Many children are still in virtual Read More

Thank you, Lashondria Purnell, Faith Community Nurse with Advocate Aurora Health, for leading a prayer line.  Hear how it has had a positive impact on Eva, one of the participants: When I think of what the prayer line means to me, I think of the scripture Matthew 18:20, For where two or three are gathered Read More