Welcome To Fourth Presbyterian Church

Chicago Lights

In 2004, Chicago Lights was founded as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community outreach organization that reflects and expands Fourth Presbyterian Church’s historic commitment to serve the city and our urban neighbors. It is the successor to the first nonprofit organization of Fourth Church, which was Partners in Educationm founded in 1991.

Chicago Lights changes lives one at a time by offering hope and opportunity to individuals and families who face the challenges of aging, poverty, and access to education and healthcare.

Chicago Lights fosters literacy and education, alleviates hunger and homelessness, and advances health and wellness through eight programs as described below.

Today we serve 7,000 individuals of all races, ethnic backgrounds and religious traditions. Chicago’s urban landscape is a more humane, just and equitable place to live because of the work of 50 paid staff, over 1,000 volunteers, and partnerships with 100 other organizations.

Vicky Curtiss, Executive Director

Chicago Lights Tutoring, Stacy Jackson, Director, began in 1964.

Tutoring seeks to break the cycle of poverty through academic and emotional support for more than 400 students from low-income families by helping the students improve their academic performance, stay in school through high school graduation, prepare for higher education and meaningful careers, and expand leadership and social skills.

Children in grades one through twelve, from the Near North, West Town, and Humboldt neighborhoods, come to Fourth Presbyterian Church for weekly one-to-one tutoring sessions with volunteer tutors/mentors. Healthy meals, martial arts and visual arts, computer lab access, job training opportunities, internships, scholarships, and literacy activities are key components of the program, which operates four evenings a week during the school year.

Chicago Lights Summer Day, Alex Cornwell, Associate Director, began in 1981.

Summer Day provides a safe place to learn and engage in arts activities for about 125 first through eighth graders for six weeks each summer. Students primarily from Near North, West Town, and Humboldt neighborhoods come to Fourth Presbyterian Church for classroom instruction in writing, spelling, reading, math, and healthy living; arts education, computer learning, and music. Field trips are included in the six-week curriculum. At the end of the program, the children present a dynamic, multicultural music and dance performance for the community.

Chicago Lights Elam Davies Social Service Center (EDSSC), Kathleen McKenzie, Director,
began in 1983.

EDSSC meets basic human needs while working with partner agencies to support persons on their journey toward greater stability and self-sufficiency. Services include a weekly community meal that usually serves 125 persons, bag lunches distributed three days a week, a food pantry, distribution of clothing, housing information and assistance, computer classes, community voice mail, local transportation assistance, job readiness training, advocacy, health screenings, support groups, and (limited) case management. There are no geographic boundaries or eligibility requirements. The goal is to serve all neighbors with dignity and respect.

Chicago Lights Center for Life and Learning (CLL), Patty Jenkins, Director, beganin 1965.

CLL is founded on a commitment to intellectual and creative challenge for its patrons. Each year more than 250 men and women 60 years and more take advantage of daily opportunities to explore new interests, strengthen friendships, and continue to shape their lives and communities. The Center offers purpose, hope, and meaning in the fullness of life’s journey through a variety of social, educational, cultural, and physical activities. Their annual selections in foreign language, arts, literature, history, architecture, computer instruction, and wellness represent the varied and shifting interests of their members. Annual classes are the backbone of the learning community, and they meet weekly, September through June.

Chicago Lights Center for Whole Health (CWH), Terrill Stumpf, Director, began in 1986.

CWH promotes health and wellness in mind, body and spirit through educational seminars, counseling, screenings, immunizations, health assessments and referrals. With more than 2,500 annual contacts, the Center focuses its outreach in four areas:

Healthy Aging: An Advanced Practice Nurse provides health counseling and weekly wellness lectures to members of the Chicago Lights Center for Life and Learning;
Mental Health: Lectures and series are offered throughout the year to educate the public on current issues in mental health;
Women’s Health: The Healthy Heart Project educates low-income African American women about the risks of heart disease and its prevention; and

Needs of Homeless and Low-Income Persons: Bi-annual health fairs provide health screenings and immunizations and educate guests of the Chicago Lights Elam Davies Social Service Center on issues of physical and mental health.

CWH works in concert with other Chicago Lights programs as well as a broad group of community health care and social service partners to impact the growing need for whole health services and practices.

Chicago Lights Literacy and Arts at the Near North Magnet Cluster Schools (NNMC), Diana Anton, Director, began in 2000.

NNMC supports learning and creative self-expression through literacy and arts programs for nearly 1,000 students in the two Cabrini-Green area public elementary schools (Jenner Academy and Manierre). Students in grades three through eight are motivated to improve their reading skills through the Accelerated Reader™ program. If they meet their reading goals they have the opportunity to participate in fine arts classes and to perform in an annual arts production called Festival of the Heart. Nearly 200 students are involved in the fine arts classes and the annual year-end theatre, music, and dance performance.

Chicago Lights Free Write Jail Arts and Literacy at Nancy B. Jefferson Alternative School (NBJ), Ryan Keesling and Amanda Klonsky, Co-Directors, began in 2001.

NBJ provides the only one-to-one literacy tutoring available for more than 400 youth incarcerated in the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center. NBJ seeks to reduce recidivism and help students find meaningful pathways to self-expression and further education through daily writing and arts workshops. The skills the students acquire through the study, critique and creation of poetry and fiction help them to make meaning of their own stories and to connect with the stories of others. Students have access to a rich library of resources as well as the opportunity to engage in the creation of media arts. Some of their poetry and music is published in a quarterly newsletter and an annual anthology as well as released in a CD recording.

Chicago Lights Chicago Avenue Outreach, Natasha Holbert, Director, began in 2003.

Chicago Avenue Outreach seeks to strengthen ties between Fourth Presbyterian Church and the children and families living in the Cabrini community. Outreach also seeks to foster relationships among residents in this neighborhood that has changed dramatically in the past decade from primarily low-income to mixed income housing. The primary program is theCommunity Garden in which individual and communal plots are worked to grow organic vegetables and flowers. With the help of Growing Power, horticultural and recreational opportunities are offered for children from the neighborhood in a safe and beautiful space. Monthly cookouts and special events foster community building among adults. Produce harvested from the garden is shared with neighbors and local hunger programs.

For more information about Chicago Lights, visit www.chicagolights.org



Chicago Lights In 2004, Chicago Lights was founded as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community outreach organization that reflects and expands Fourth Presbyterian Church’s historic commitment to serve the city and our urban neighbors. It is the successor to the first nonprofit organization of Fourth Church, which was Partners in Educationm founded in 1991. Chicago Lights changes lives one at a time by offering hope and opportunity to individuals and families who face the challenges of aging, poverty, and access to education and healthcare. Chicago Lights fosters literacy and education, alleviates hunger and homelessness, and advances health and wellness through eight programs as described below. Today we serve 7,000 individuals of all races, ethnic backgrounds and religious traditions. Chicago’s urban landscape is a more humane, just and equitable place to live because of the work of 50 paid staff, over 1,000 volunteers, and partnerships with 100 other organizations. Vicky Curtiss, Executive Director Chicago Lights Tutoring, Stacy Jackson, Director, began in 1964. Tutoring seeks to break the cycle of poverty through academic and emotional support for more than 400 students from low-income families by helping the students improve their academic performance, stay in school through high school graduation, prepare for higher education and meaningful careers, and expand leadership and social skills. Children in grades one through twelve, from the Near North, West Town, and Humboldt neighborhoods, come to Fourth Presbyterian Church for weekly one-to-one tutoring sessions with volunteer tutors/mentors. Healthy meals, martial arts and visual arts, computer lab access, job training opportunities, internships, scholarships, and literacy activities are key components of the program, which operates four evenings a week during the school year. Chicago Lights Summer Day, Alex Cornwell, Associate Director, began in 1981. Summer Day provides a safe place to learn and engage in arts activities for about 125 first through eighth graders for six weeks each summer. Students primarily from Near North, West Town, and Humboldt neighborhoods come to Fourth Presbyterian Church for classroom instruction in writing, spelling, reading, math, and healthy living; arts education, computer learning, and music. Field trips are included in the six-week curriculum. At the end of the program, the children present a dynamic, multicultural music and dance performance for the community. Chicago Lights Elam Davies Social Service Center (EDSSC), Kathleen McKenzie, Director, began in 1983. EDSSC meets basic human needs while working with partner agencies to support persons on their journey toward greater stability and self-sufficiency. Services include a weekly community meal that usually serves 125 persons, bag lunches distributed three days a week, a food pantry, distribution of clothing, housing information and assistance, computer classes, community voice mail, local transportation assistance, job readiness training, advocacy, health screenings, support groups, and (limited) case management. There are no geographic boundaries or eligibility requirements. The goal is to serve all neighbors with dignity and respect. Chicago Lights Center for Life and Learning (CLL), Patty Jenkins, Director, beganin 1965. CLL is founded on a commitment to intellectual and creative challenge for its patrons. Each year more than 250 men and women 60 years and more take advantage of daily opportunities to explore new interests, strengthen friendships, and continue to shape their lives and communities. The Center offers purpose, hope, and meaning in the fullness of life’s journey through a variety of social, educational, cultural, and physical activities. Their annual selections in foreign language, arts, literature, history, architecture, computer instruction, and wellness represent the varied and shifting interests of their members. Annual classes are the backbone of the learning community, and they meet weekly, September through June. Chicago Lights Center for Whole Health (CWH), Terrill Stumpf, Director, began in 1986. CWH promotes health and wellness in mind, body and spirit through educational seminars, counseling, screenings, immunizations, health assessments and referrals. With more than 2,500 annual contacts, the Center focuses its outreach in four areas: Healthy Aging: An Advanced Practice Nurse provides health counseling and weekly wellness lectures to members of the Chicago Lights Center for Life and Learning; Mental Health: Lectures and series are offered throughout the year to educate the public on current issues in mental health; Women’s Health: The Healthy Heart Project educates low-income African American women about the risks of heart disease and its prevention; and Needs of Homeless and Low-Income Persons: Bi-annual health fairs provide health screenings and immunizations and educate guests of the Chicago Lights Elam Davies Social Service Center on issues of physical and mental health. CWH works in concert with other Chicago Lights programs as well as a broad group of community health care and social service partners to impact the growing need for whole health services and practices. Chicago Lights Literacy and Arts at the Near North Magnet Cluster Schools (NNMC), Diana Anton, Director, began in 2000. NNMC supports learning and creative self-expression through literacy and arts programs for nearly 1,000 students in the two Cabrini-Green area public elementary schools (Jenner Academy and Manierre). Students in grades three through eight are motivated to improve their reading skills through the Accelerated Reader™ program. If they meet their reading goals they have the opportunity to participate in fine arts classes and to perform in an annual arts production called Festival of the Heart. Nearly 200 students are involved in the fine arts classes and the annual year-end theatre, music, and dance performance. Chicago Lights Free Write Jail Arts and Literacy at Nancy B. Jefferson Alternative School (NBJ), Ryan Keesling and Amanda Klonsky, Co-Directors, began in 2001. NBJ provides the only one-to-one literacy tutoring available for more than 400 youth incarcerated in the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center. NBJ seeks to reduce recidivism and help students find meaningful pathways to self-expression and further education through daily writing and arts workshops. The skills the students acquire through the study, critique and creation of poetry and fiction help them to make meaning of their own stories and to connect with the stories of others. Students have access to a rich library of resources as well as the opportunity to engage in the creation of media arts. Some of their poetry and music is published in a quarterly newsletter and an annual anthology as well as released in a CD recording. Chicago Lights Chicago Avenue Outreach, Natasha Holbert, Director, began in 2003. Chicago Avenue Outreach seeks to strengthen ties between Fourth Presbyterian Church and the children and families living in the Cabrini community. Outreach also seeks to foster relationships among residents in this neighborhood that has changed dramatically in the past decade from primarily low-income to mixed income housing. The primary program is theCommunity Garden in which individual and communal plots are worked to grow organic vegetables and flowers. With the help of Growing Power, horticultural and recreational opportunities are offered for children from the neighborhood in a safe and beautiful space. Monthly cookouts and special events foster community building among adults. Produce harvested from the garden is shared with neighbors and local hunger programs. For more information about Chicago Lights, visit www.chicagolights.org