Unique Fire in the Bridgeport Neighborhood of Chicago

Our Chicago 1 site is located in the Bridgeport Neighborhood on the south side of Chicago this week there was a fire in an abandoned warehouse in the neighborhood, thankfully no one was hurt, but because of the frigid temperatures in Chicago everything that got sprayed with water froze over with ice creating some pretty amazing images.

Images were taken from the following website: http://www.thisiscolossal.com/2013/01/fire-and-ice-the-frozen-aftermath-of-a-chicago-warehouse-fire/

More information is available via the Chicago Tribune: http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2013-01-23/news/chi-extraalarm-fire-in-bridgeport-warehouse-20130122_1_alarm-fire-bridgeport-warehouse-large-fire

 

Welcome Mike,

We have a new addition to the MidStates team, Mike Thompson!   Mike started this week as the full time Area Director overseeing the communities of: Duluth, Duluth/Superior, Green Bay, Milwaukee, Benton Harbor, Sault Ste. Marie, Indianapolis, Cincinnati, & Denver.  Mike graduated from Bethel University in St. Paul, MN last spring with a degree in political science.  Mike served as a Site Director for our Chicago 1 site in the summer of 2012 and is passionate about continuing to invest into communities through this role at YouthWorks.

A few other fun things about Mike: He played college football at Bethel, he loves fishing and he is adventurous and loves trying new things.

Welcome Mike!

30 Words

Our friends at Reverb Magazine asked students who came on YouthWorks trips last summer to describe their experience in 30 words.   Below are some statements that youth made after visiting our MidStates communities.    If you want to read more of these stories check out Reverb at www.reverbmagazine.com.

I learned what it’s like to worship Christ in EVERYTHING I do – how to love with the love of Christ – and that loving His people reflects my love for Him.
–Kiesha, Triumph Lutheran Brethren
YouthWorks Site: Chicago, Site 1

 

The experiences and intense interactions I had with the community and my peers was of a magnitude of which I am truly blessed. Jesus loves you and so do I!
–Zach Atzen, Lutheran Church of the Cross
YouthWorks Site: Benton Harbor, Michigan

 

While on my mission trip in the Quad Cities my faith was strengthened and perspective was widened. My surroundings became more important than myself. I understand what God is doing.
–Anna Schornack, Zumbro Lutheran Church
YouthWorks Site: Quad Cities

 

Being unsure about college, God showed me the way. After spending each morning at Camp-Wil-O-Way – a camp for disabled children – I want to teach special education.
Name: Becky Rutkowski, St. John’s
YouthWorks Site: Milwaukee, Wisconsin

 

My first Youthworks trip. I enjoyed making new friends, and meeting and serving the needs of the community. I especially enjoyed Club and devotions. We had an awesome YouthWorks team.
–Andrew Roland, Emmanuel
YouthWorks Site: Minneapolis

 

This week I went to Milwaukee with my church youth group. When I was there my perspective on things changed. I learned that it doesn’t matter what color skin you have, but you are the same as the people around you. I also learned that I’m getting better at talking to people and not being as shy as I used to be. That’s what I learned this week in Milwaukee, WI.
–Lydia Westberg, Salem Lutheran Church
YouthWorks Site: Milwaukee

 

Building relationships was very interesting. Being at Project Renewal and Intouch was spiritually rewarding. I got closer to God because I realized he knows what is best for everyone.
–Morgan Bredeson, Trinity Lutheran
YouthWorks Site: Quad Cities

 

By He Hand Club for Kids in Chicago

I (Jason) recently traveled to Chicago where I spent some time with many of our great community friends who have contributed to YouthWorks over the years.  One of the highlights for me was spending time with Brooke who works at By the Hand Club for Kids.  Youth from our Chicago 1 site volunteer with By the Hand Club in the Altgeld neighborhood in the summer, but I learned that By the Hand has an amazing presence all over the city.

• From bythehand.org – By The Hand is an after-school program with an emphasis on academics and a commitment to nurturing the whole child—mind, body and soul. Founded in Cabrini-Green and located strategically throughout some of Chicago’s most impoverished inner-city communities, where overcrowded and underfunded schools abound, By The Hand is filling a special need—and with great success. Kids are saying no to drugs, gang violence and teenage pregnancy. They are rejecting illiteracy and poverty as a way of life. Instead, they are developing into honor roll students and changing the trajectory of their lives. When you partner with By The Hand, you are helping kids realize their full potential. In doing so, you are making a difference for generations to come.

It was great to talk with Brooke about the history of different neighborhoods in Chicago and why poverty exists in the city.  Many of the youth who come on a YouthWorks trip to Chicago 1 this summer will be blessed as they serve with By the Hand Club for Kids.

This Picture was taken outside of the By The Hand Club Cabrini-Green location.  It is strange to see open green fields in Chicago, these empty lots were left after the Cabrini-Green housing projects were torn down.

Chicago 1: Eden Place

On Monday I (Jason) got the chance to go out with one of our Chicago 1 crews to Eden Place.  Eden Place is a community garden on the south side of Chicago that has been working to improve the lives of neighborhood children.  Check out their website. It was an amazing blessing to hear their story and see what they are doing in the neighborhood.

Chicago 1: Morning Devo Time

Youth enjoying devo time this morning at Chicago 1!

Chinatown, Chicago!

Chinatown, Chicago.

I (Melissa) am in the city today meeting with ministry partners and setting up details for the summer.

YSpalooza in Chicago-land!

YS Palooza in Chicago

This past weekend I got a chance to attend YS Palooza in Chicago with a few MidStates community friends from around the area.  It was a blessing to see youth pastors and volunteers be energized and excited about engaging with youth ministry.

Chicago Pride

Thanks to Melissa and Orkposters.com, Chicago pride hangs from the Mid-states Region office wall 24/7.

Chicago Yummy-ness

I (Melissa) got the chance to attend a luncheon in downtown Chicago with one of our friends in ministry Maggie Martinez.  Maggie runs the Block Club Federation and we partner with her each summer helping out with the YIPEE program.  Maggie is very well networked in the non-profit community in Chicago and it was an honor to be her guest at this incredible event.   It was also a blessing to enjoy this fancy food!