In communities across Chicago, families impacted by gun violence continue to show profound resilience in the face of grief, loss, and ongoing uncertainty. Survivors carry not only emotional pain, but also the financial and systemic burdens that follow sudden and traumatic loss. And yet, even in the midst of this reality, people continue to
This annual report tells the story of two years shaped by inquiry, care, and connection. Guided by research, restoration, and relationship, we showed up not as observers on the sidelines, but as partners—listening closely, learning together, and staying present. In these shared efforts, we uncovered pathways toward change that endures and moves us closer to
In the heart of Chicago’s South Side lies Auburn Gresham. The community is shaped by resilience, a rich historical past, and a place that is bursting with untapped potential. And right now, this community is standing on the brink of something extraordinary… At BECOME, transformation isn’t just our name; it’s our mission. For over a
This report delves into the dynamic social landscape of Chicago’s Little Village neighborhood, exploring resident perspectives on the influx of new neighbors seeking asylum. Utilizing BECOME‘s unique approach to evaluation, known as Catalytic Evaluation, and in partnership with Enlace Chicago, one of the primary community organizations and service providers in Little Village, the study moves
Welcome to the Becoming Change Makers Newsletter! To recap the previous newsletter, “Becoming Change Makers: The Exquisite Path to Leadership and Liberation for Women of Color” is a transformational guide to finding our way through the unprecedented times we are living in. This book offers a path for us to step into creating a new world. Let’s
While the trauma we experienced in 2020 wrenched our work into new channels, it also sharpened our vision. The violence and disease we experienced, and continue to experience, showed up for all of us in ways that sadly were not new for many of us. The silver lining, we believe, is those traumatic experiences have
As professional evaluators whose work is based in community psychology, we believe understanding a community’s needs starts with listening to voices of those who live in that community. Our Maximizing Impact initiative is built on that belief. One example of our work that illustrates how we incorporate the voices of community residents when we analyze
https://www.youtube.com/embed/JSTA-hXqDcI In March we shared the first responses to the COVID-19 pandemic from community leaders and other partners we convened via Zoom. It’s now clear–with the unjust and tragic killing of George Floyd, clear to all the world–that we face not one crisis, but two: the pandemic as well as systemic racial injustice. Many have
Zoom call on April 2 We’re grateful to the more than 40 community leaders from across the Chicago region and beyond who came together over six hours in three phone calls Thursday, March 26, Thursday April 2, and Wednesday April 8. Read our earlier blog post about the first call here. Here are two key
This post recaps the first of 3 calls with BECOME colleagues, partners and clients from service, policy and advocacy groups. Our next Zoom meeting is April 8th at 2:30PM. If you are interested in joining us on the calls or collaborating, or want more information, please reach out to Nancy Smith, to be added to
Phone: 312-278-1049
Email: info@becomecenter.org
