Working with Communities in Schools of Chicago, St. Leonard’s House and Grace House residents participate in the “Smart Life Decisions” Program which sponsors SLM residents going into Chicago Public Schools to share life experiences in hope of preventing the children from experiencing the same things. Students are encouraged to stay in school and not make bad choices of getting involved with gangs, drugs and criminal activity. St. Leonard’s House and Grace House have been part of this program for three years; every year appearance requests grow. School officials believe that young people are more apt to listen to someone who has “been there/done that” rather than an individual just telling them “don’t do it because I say so.” From the letters and emails received after each appearance, it is clear that differences have been made in many of the children’s lives. For the men and women of St. Leonard’s House and Grace House, there is no better way to give back to their communities and to make a difference the lives of young people.
Behind the Barlow Center, occupying a small piece of formerly unused ground, sits the newly created Michael Barlow Center for Green Technology. Pete Baker and his staff are the creative geniuses behind the Center. Re-cycling is a primary activity, but an urban garden, complete with composting activities, is also planned for next season. A small green house outfitted with solar light panels is part of the physical complex. The green house was designed and built by students in the most recent Green Building Maintenance Class at the Barlow Center. Small vegetables will be grown in the green house during the winter and moved to outside space next spring. Vegetable crops will be shared between the St. Leonard’s House Kitchen and the Barlow Center Culinary Skills classes. The Green Tech Center is an example of lots of activity taking place in a very small space.
At its June Annual Luncheon, the Chicago Jobs Council presented St. Leonard’s Ministries with its “Partner of the Year” Award which recognized the Barlow Center staff, including former Director, Jim Zangs, for the leadership that the Center has played in creating a realistic approach to the development of a standardized green technology curriculum. Pete Baker, SLM Facilities Director and Green Building Maintenance Class Instructor, continues to play a major part in bringing about a practical and realistic approach to the greening of Chicago’s workforce and neighborhood communities.
St. Leonard’s Ministries was chosen by Episcopal Charities and Community Services to participate in its first Board Governance Round Table which began in May. Board Members, Peter Daane and David Jones, along with executive director, Bob Dougherty, will participate in an eighteen month seminar series related to clarifying and energizing Board participation in the life of the non-profit which it governs. An action plan will be created and set into motion as the Round Table continues. This is an excellent opportunity to infuse the board with ideas and possibilities from outside the Agency.
On May 27, Artist-in-Residence, Michael Agnew, once again created an enjoyable evening with a Readers’ Theater Production entitled, “Of Basketball and Being Me.” Four SLM program participants read some of their own poetic works interspersed with pieces by somewhat more well-known poets and prose writers. St. Andrew’s Church was transformed into a rather dramatic setting for the presentation which was the culmination of eight weeks of hard work and dedication on the part of the performers and others who were part of the event. The evening was as therapeutic as it was artful for performers and audience members alike. The Illinois Arts Council sponsored Michael’s presence with St. Leonard’s Ministries through its Artist in Residence Educational Programming.
