The Volunteers in Chicago live on the South Side of the city, in a neighborhood called Beverly. This neighborhood is about 30 minutes from downtown Chicago (accessible by public transportation as well as by car) and has more of a suburban feel. The Volunteers live in a typical South Side two-story, three-bedroom house in a predominantly white, Irish Catholic neighborhood that is extremely tight-knit and welcoming. The Volunteers in Chicago serve in schools and with Catholic Charities.
St. Margaret of Scotland School
St. Margaret of Scotland School is an inner-city Catholic grammar school. There are approximately 200 students in grades pre-K through 8. While the school building is large, the student population is relatively small and each grade has only one class. The Volunteer may serve as a computer instructor, pre-K aid, or librarian depending on the needs of the school in a given year. As computer instructor, the Volunteer serves with grades 1-8 creating a curriculum and lesson plans to teach basic computer knowledge such as typing and Microsoft Office.
For more information about St. Margaret of Scotland School, visit their
website.
St. Rita of Casica High School
St. Rita of Cascia High School is an all male Augustinian college preparatory school. St. Rita has a strong sense of community that bases its mission on the core values of Veritas, Unitas, and Caritas (Truth, Unity, and Love). There are just over 700 students in the school. The Volunteer serves primarily in the office of Campus Ministry. In that capacity, the Volunteer serves with students to get them interested in and excited about their faith, as well as to educate them to better understand what it means to live by the core values that the school teaches. The Volunteer assists with retreats and helps to coordinate the school's Christian Service program.
For more information about St. Rita High School, visit their
website .
St. John Fisher School
St. John Fisher School is a Catholic grammar school located in the neighborhood where the Volunteers live. It is a predominantly middle-class institution with about 750 students, comprising a large and welcoming school that has a strong sense of community. The Volunteer serves in the pre-K class as a teacher’s aid, assisting in whatever ways are needed within the classroom, including with arts and crafts, singing, and educational lessons. In addition, at times the Volunteer is asked to substitute for other classes at the school.
For more information about St. John Fisher School, visit their
website.
Jadonal E. Ford Center
The Jadonal E. Ford Center is a Catholic Charities program that works with pregnant women and women with children under the age of one. The ages of clients ranges from teenagers to women in their 40s who are dealing with unplanned pregnancies. The Volunteer serves as a case manager at the Ford Center. This position entails serving directly with clients, by conducting home visits and completing intake records for new clients. The position also involves a great deal of paperwork and data entry, as it is a social work position in which the Volunteer is given similar responsibilities as other employees. A background in social services is helpful but not required.
For more information about the Ford Center, visit their
website.