New funding has been secured for the Esperanza Community Services center at 520 N Marshfield Avenue in West Town. Located just west of the intersection with W Grand Avenue, the funds will go towards the repair and maintenance of their existing multi-building campus. The grant was just approved last month and is coming from the Community Development Program, part of the city’s pandemic recovery initiative which gave money to 80 other proposals.
Site context map of Esperanza Community Services center at 520 N Marshfield Ave via Google Maps
Esperanza Community Services was founded by Guadalupe Reyes in 1969 as a school for children whose learning needs were not met in traditional classrooms according to the organization themselves. They now provide an alternate school for over 60 full-time students ranging from kindergarten to 22-years-old with developmental disabilities, as well as services for around 70 adults including in-home and at group homes in the neighborhood. The school is also looking to expand its transformative adult arts program through donations, those can be made through their website.
Current view of Esperanza Community Services center at 520 N Marshfield Ave via Google Maps
Built over 130 years ago, the center is predominantly housed in the brick-clad four-story building that was a Catholic school originally. Since Esperanza moved into the structure in the 1970’s, it has not received many upgrades nor major repairs, leading to operational difficulties. The money received will kickstart the first phase of repairs which include roof repairs, bathroom updates, and repairs to the exterior masonry work in hopes to better seal the interior from the climate. An eventual second phase will update the school’s nurse station, reconstruct the front entryway with additional security, and further bathroom upgrades according to Block Club.
Image from grant ceremony of Esperanza Community Services’ CEO, Principal, and Mayor Lori Lightfoot via Esperanza Community Service
The work is crucial for the center which has offered a much-needed service and respite for an often overlooked community, allowing the organization to better face its future needs. Once the upgrades are completed, all of the students and adults will repaint a mural on the southern wall that has been peeling over the years. The $585,230 grant will allow for work to commence this fall, coordinating with the ongoing school year with an estimated completion by 2024. For those looking for volunteering opportunities, they can apply to do so here.
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