The Outlook Quarter 2 2022

The Outlook Summer, 2022 Volume 16, Issue 4

2022 Annual Report

OUR VALUES

Education is power

Compassionate service…..

Holistic approach to social services

Person centered…..

Dignity of work and investing in human capital…..

Synergic Collaborations and strategic partnerships

Innovative solutions…..

Cohesive teamwork

Comprehensive impact…..

FROM DIRECTOR EVELYN MENSAH

OnÊbehalfÊofÊourÊBoardÊofÊDirectors,Êstaff,ÊvolunteersÊandÊclients,ÊI’mÊ proudÊtoÊshareÊourÊ2021ÊannualÊreportÊwithÊyou.Ê

2021ÊwasÊanÊamazingÊyearÊofÊdras cÊgrowthÊforÊtheÊAfricanÊAmericanÊ Chris naÊFounda on.ÊAACFÊservedÊmoreÊindividualsÊthenÊeverÊbeforeÊandÊ achieveÊhistoricÊfirstsÊthroughoutÊourÊprograms.ÊTheseÊmilestonesÊandÊ successesÊwereÊpossibleÊbecauseÊofÊmanyÊgenerousÊfriends,ÊpartnersÊandÊ supportersÊlikeÊyou,ÊwhoÊhelpedÊmakeÊthatÊpossible.

WeÊthankÊyou!

WithÊgra tude,

EvelynÊMensah

Execu veÊDirector

OUR MOTTO Inspired Service

Unlimited Possibilities

OFFICERS BOARD OF DIRECTORS

· Steve Dei, President

· Dr. Edward Ofori, Vice President

· Kwaku A. Bosaiako, Treasurer

· Rita Sarpong. Financial Secretary

· Evelyn Mensah, Executive Director

AFRICAN AMERICAN CHRISTIAN FOUNDATION, INC.

Summer2022 ■ Volume15

Success in 2022!

WeÊareÊexperiencingÊgreatÊsuccessÊinÊourÊSummerÊYouthÊProgramÊplacingÊ 30ÊoutÊofÊ30ÊyouthsÊinÊstableÊjobs!ÊWeÊareÊproudÊofÊourÊinnova veÊ EmploymentÊModelÊandÊTrainingÊModelÊpromo ngÊtheÊuseÊofÊlocalÊ economicÊresourcesÊandÊequippingÊourÊyouthÊprogramÊpar cipantsÊwithÊ theÊknowledgeÊtheyÊneedÊtoÊbeÊhiredÊbyÊaÊcompanyÊandÊsustainÊ employment.ÊOurÊpar cipantsÊgainÊvaluableÊlifeÊskills asÊwellÊasÊ technicalÊandÊentrepreneurialÊskills supportedÊbyÊanÊemploymentÊsafetyÊ netÊusingÊaÊtailoredÊcombina onÊofÊstrategiesÊincluding:ÊjobÊshadowing,Ê appren ceships,ÊjobÊreferrals,Êsuppor veÊservices,ÊandÊcaseÊ management.ÊOurÊprogramÊpar cipantsÊareÊprovidedÊwithÊtheÊfollowingÊ professionalÊskills:Êso Êskills,ÊworkÊethics,ÊfinancialÊliteracy,ÊcustomerÊ service,ÊandÊcomputerÊofficeÊskills,ÊbuildingÊaÊstrongÊfounda onÊuponÊ whichÊtoÊbuildÊaÊstableÊcareer.ÊWeÊareÊwellÊonÊtheÊwayÊofÊachievingÊourÊ goalÊofÊplacingÊ50ÊyouthsÊinÊstableÊjobsÊbyÊtheÊendÊofÊSeptember!

PROUD RECIPIENTS OF DHS GRANT TO END HOMELESSNESS

WeÊareÊvery gratefulÊforÊtheÊfinancialÊsupportÊgrantedÊfromÊtheÊIllinoisÊ DepartmentÊofÊHumanÊServicesÊ(DHS)ÊenablingÊusÊtoÊprovideÊrentalÊ assistanceÊandÊupÊtoÊoneÊyearÊofÊsuppor veÊhousingÊassistanceÊforÊ programÊpar cipantsÊexperiencingÊhomelessnessÊandÊhousingÊinsecurity.Ê ThanksÊtoÊDHSÊfinancialÊsupportÊweÊnowÊhaveÊtheÊfundingÊtoÊdeliverÊ suppor veÊservicesÊtoÊlow-incomeÊpersonsÊresidingÊinÊpermanentÊhousingÊ units,ÊwhoÊareÊformerlyÊhomelessÊorÊatÊriskÊofÊbecomingÊhomeless;ÊorÊtoÊ homelessÊpersonsÊresidingÊinÊtransi onalÊfacili esÊwhoÊareÊpreparedÊtoÊ moveÊintoÊpermanentÊhousing.ÊByÊworkingÊtogetherÊwithÊgovernmentÊ agenciesÊandÊwithÊsupportÊfromÊcommunityÊmembersÊandÊourÊbusinessÊ partnersÊweÊcanÊhelpÊtoÊeradicateÊtheÊeffectsÊofÊsystemicÊracismÊandÊ bringÊallÊofÊourÊcommunityÊmembersÊtoÊsafetyÊtoÊliveÊwithÊhumanÊdignity,Ê meetÊbasicÊhumanÊneeds,ÊandÊgrowÊtoÊachieveÊfinancialÊstability.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

AFRICAN AMERICAN CHRISTIAN FOUNDATION, INC.

Thank You for Providing Me with a Better Future

“Thank you for the opportunity. Thank you for helping me when I’m in need right now. And thank you for providing me with a better future.” - Efren

Efren learned about AACF roughly a year ago when a friend told him about the organization which helps people in need. He was employed at the time so the thought passed through his mind as he wasn’t in need of assistance. He was reminded of AACF later, a few months ago in August when he began his Commercial Drivers License (CDL) training at Progressive Truck Driving School. Instructors at Progressive told Efren about AACF, that it is a good agency that helps out students in need. Efren then made a call to the AACF office and talked with a case manager there. The case manager filled him in on the process for receiving the financial aid which would cover the costs of his Progressive CDL. Efren then accessed the form on the AACF website to enter into the program and soon after went through online courses with AACF. The courses covered information about life situations, skills assessment, anger management, and job skills, and consisted of multiple choice and essay questions. After completing the courses he waited for about two weeks before receiving approval for grant funding which will cover the cost of his Progressive CDL. Currently Efren is working towards his truck driving permit which will enable him to continue his Progressive classroom work and then get out on the road for training hours. Efren has completed his CDL and is currently on his road to success!

NEW PROGRAM LAUNCH

AACF is launching a new program designed to train program participants to become career coaches, case managers, and customer service representatives. The new initiative called Career Coach Corp will be run by seasoned case manager Chuckita Smith who will lend her own top notch facilitating and coaching skills to the training. Participants in the Career Coach Corp program will be paid $17 an hour as they learn career coaching techniques, case management skills, as well as valuable customer service and computer office skills.

Participants will complete the Career Coach Corp program with professional skills and be fully equipped to become Career Coaches with AACF or other organizations. They will additionally be trained for customer service and office management opportunities with other companies and the ability to work in a professional business environment. The new program will stand up to its goal of building up a perennial pipeline of professional individuals who are workforce ready to enter the corporate or small business world - and succeed.

The professions of career coaching, case management, and customer service have many common life and work skills. Among them are strong interpersonal communication skills, the ability to connect with others, team-building, persuasive skills, being goal-oriented, and the ability to assess, plan, evaluate, and coordinate. Additionally are entrepreneurial skills including analytical and critical thinking skills, strategic thinking and planning, financial planning, and the vital element of being a self-starter. All of these skills lend themselves to being a great leader in the workplace. Participants who choose to pursue Career Coaching will have the ability to motivate and lead mentees along their chosen career pathways and all will have excellent customer service skills - which lend themselves to any and all professions.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WINS SEAT IN CFW’S 2022

WILLIE’S WARRIORS

WeÊcongratulateÊAACFÊExecu veÊDirector,ÊEvelynÊMensah,ÊforÊwinningÊaÊseatÊinÊ theÊChicagoÊFounda onÊforÊWomenÊ(CFW)Ê2022ÊWillie’sÊWarriorsÊLeadershipÊInia veÊcohort.ÊCFWÊisÊdedicatedÊtoÊservingÊwomenÊandÊgirlsÊinÊtheÊChicagolandÊareaÊ throughÊgrant-making,Êadvocacy,Êleadership,ÊandÊorganizingÊforÊchange.ÊCFW’sÊ Willie’sÊWarriorsÊLeadershipÊIni a ve,ÊcreatedÊinÊhonorÊofÊReverendÊWillieÊT.ÊBarrow,ÊCivilÊRightsÊac vist,Êminister,Êco-founderÊofÊOpera onÊPUSH,ÊandÊgenera onalÊmentor,ÊbringsÊoutstandingÊwomenÊleadersÊtogetherÊtoÊsupportÊandÊlearnÊfromÊ eachÊotherÊandÊtoÊcon nueÊtheÊfightÊforÊeconomicÊandÊhealthÊempowermentÊofÊ womenÊandÊgirls.

TheÊ2022ÊWillie’sÊWarriorsÊcohort,ÊofÊ17Êmembers,ÊwillÊworkÊtogetherÊtoÊco-createÊ aÊcurriculumÊfocusingÊonÊsystemsÊchange,ÊeconomicÊempowerment,Êcommunicaons,ÊandÊbuildingÊalliancesÊacrossÊmovementsÊandÊcommuni es,ÊlearningÊfromÊ expertsÊandÊeachÊotherÊthroughoutÊtheÊyear.ÊThisÊwillÊbeÊanÊopportunityÊforÊourÊ directorÊtoÊbuildÊstrongÊconnec onsÊwithÊotherÊoutstandingÊAfricanÊAmericanÊ womenÊleadersÊacrossÊtheÊChicagoÊregion,ÊstrengtheningÊourÊconnec onsÊwithÊ otherÊorganiza onsÊcommi edÊtoÊeconomicÊandÊhealthÊequityÊinÊChicago.

MuchÊdeservingÊofÊthisÊhonor,ÊMs.ÊMensahÊisÊdedicatedÊtoÊempoweringÊwomen,Ê girls,ÊandÊyouthsÊinÊherÊfightÊtoÊserveÊourÊlowÊincomeÊCookÊCountyÊcommunityÊ members.ÊAÊlifelongÊhumanitarianÊchampion,ÊMs.ÊMensahÊbringsÊaÊdeepÊcommitmentÊtoÊcommunityÊandÊpublicÊserviceÊtoÊeverythingÊsheÊdoes.ÊServingÊasÊExecuveÊDirectorÊofÊAACFÊini allyÊasÊanÊunpaidÊvolunteer,ÊMs.ÊMensahÊworksÊ relesslyÊ toÊprovideÊlowÊincomeÊcommunityÊmembersÊwithÊeduca on,ÊjobÊtraining,ÊpaidÊ internships,ÊjobÊplacements,ÊandÊfinancialÊaidÊinÊtheÊsupportÊofÊprogramÊpar cipantÊeconomicÊgrowthÊandÊempowerment.ÊThroughÊMs.ÊMensah’sÊleadership,Ê 150ÊyouthsÊhaveÊsucceededÊinÊcomple ngÊtrainingÊcourses,Êeduca onalÊpathways,Ê andÊsecuredÊjobsÊinÊtheÊpastÊyear,ÊinÊspiteÊofÊtheÊcurrentÊCOVID-19Êpandemic.

ThroughoutÊherÊcareerÊasÊaÊfinancialÊprofessional,ÊacademicÊadministratorÊandÊ communityÊleader,ÊMs.ÊMensahÊhasÊworkedÊtoÊincreaseÊaccessÊtoÊopportunityÊandÊ buildÊsafe,ÊthrivingÊcommuni esÊforÊallÊCookÊCountyÊresidents.ÊAsÊaÊ15-yearÊveteranÊofÊtheÊAfricanÊAmericanÊChris anÊFounda on,ÊMs.ÊMensahÊhasÊseenÊfirsthandÊ theÊchallengesÊfacingÊlow-incomeÊresidents,ÊbutÊalsoÊtheÊstrengthÊandÊresilienceÊofÊ ourÊcommuni es.ÊWhileÊleadingÊAACFÊasÊtheÊExecu veÊDirector,ÊMs.ÊMensahÊbuiltÊ strongÊrela onshipsÊtoÊconnectÊcommunityÊresidentsÊwithÊresourcesÊandÊmakeÊ governmentÊmoreÊavailableÊtoÊtheÊpeopleÊitÊserves.ÊAndÊasÊanÊadministratorÊofÊ ourÊvoca onalÊschool,ÊKAMÊIns tuteÊofÊHealthcareÊandÊTechnology,ÊMs.ÊMensahÊ hasÊworkedÊtoÊcreateÊanÊenvironmentÊinÊwhichÊstudentsÊandÊstaffÊcouldÊachieveÊ theirÊgoalsÊandÊsucceed.

AACFÊhasÊbuiltÊaÊstrongÊserviceÊmodelÊthatÊhasÊallowedÊtheÊorganiza onÊtoÊformÊ newÊalliances,ÊandÊlaunchÊnewÊandÊinnova veÊprogramming.ÊMs.ÊMensahÊisÊtheÊ idealÊleaderÊtoÊadvanceÊAACF’sÊmissionÊatÊthisÊpivotalÊmoment,ÊandÊweÊareÊexcitedÊtoÊbuildÊonÊthoseÊachievementsÊwithÊherÊatÊtheÊrein.ÊInÊherÊownÊwords:Ê

“MaybeÊIÊcanÊhelpÊaÊpar cipantÊgetÊaÊclearÊideaÊofÊwhereÊtheyÊwantÊtoÊgo,Êiden fyÊ anÊexpansionÊofÊopportuni esÊthatÊtheyÊhaveÊnotÊconsideredÊbefore,ÊorÊperhapsÊ fosterÊbusinessÊrela onships.ÊTogetherÊweÊwillÊworkÊtoÊdiscoverÊtheÊnextÊlevelÊ whichÊisÊaboutÊprogressÊandÊaddÊtoÊourÊskillÊlevel.”ÊMs.ÊMensahÊthrivesÊonÊbuildingÊaÊcommunityÊandÊworldÊinÊwhichÊallÊwomen,Êgirls,ÊandÊyouthsÊhaveÊtheÊopportunityÊtoÊachieveÊtheirÊfullÊpoten alÊandÊliveÊinÊsafe,Êjust,ÊandÊhealthyÊcommunies.

“With the hard work of my dedicated team members we have addressed the issues of equity and jus ce by placing 240 low income community members in living wage jobs over the course of the year; providing 1082 suppor ve services to our youth intern par cipants and 56 suppor ve services to working single mothers. We serve a client base of 89% Black and 10% Hispanic, with 56% of our clients being women. I am proud of my dedicated team’s accomplishments yet I know there is much more to be done - We are gearing up for the new year and excited for what we can accomplish to serve our low income community members.” -

Evelyn Mensah

A NEW CAREER DURING COVID-19

Quinniazia learned about the AACF Youth Workforce Development program through her phlebotomy training program with Lab Girls in Posen, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. Due COVID-19 expanding communication via Zoom and other online forms of communication, Quinniazia was able to join the Youth Workforce Development program remotely and has never set foot in the physical office. She received her program orientation, interest and experience interviews, and submitted paperwork via zoom, phone calls, and online.

At just 20 years of age, Quinniazia already has a long history of caretaking behind her with caring for her grandmother together with her aunt since the age 15. Quinniazia tried out cheerleading and other sports activities during her high school career at Thorton Township High School in Harvey, Illinois, but preferred spending important quality time with her grandmother as her after school and weekend caretaker. Taking care of her grandmother led her to wanting to take care of others. “Putting a smile on other people’s faces was just something I adored.” - Quinniazia

The experience of caring for her grandmother led Quinniazia to complete a home health care course upon graduating

from high school and work as a home health care worker during the year 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic surged. As a home health care worker during COVID-19 Quinniazia and her charge masked up and she diligently sanitized her hands at regular intervals. Eventually she found that she wanted more from her career and followed the advice of her godmother to pursue phlebotomy through Lab Girls six week training course. She is well into the course with a little over a week to completion.

At Lab Girls training course Quinniazia learned about AACF’s scholarships for job training programs. She called the office located in Oak Park, Illinois, signed up for the Youth Workforce Development Program and has worked with the Program Director and her case manager via zoom, phone calls, and emails. Through the AACF scholarship program 100% of her Lab Girls $2000 phlebotomy training course will be covered. Additionally AACF will help her scout for phlebotomy work in the Chicagoland area and be there for her at every step of her budding phlebotomy career.

EMPLOYMENT CASE FOR THE RECORD

AACF congratulates youth client Michael on his recent employment offer as Expungement Clerk with the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County, located in the Daley Center, downtown in the Chicago Loop. We are very proud of your accomplishments Michael!

Michael joined the AACF Youth Workforce Development Program in 2016, not long after graduating from Urban Prep High School located in Chicago’s Near West Side and hearing about the program from a high school friend. After learning about the Youth Workforce Development Program he called the office and made an appointment to come in and speak with Program Director Tami Yarborough. Tami discovered Michael’s interests with a pre-assessment test and paired him with a case manager who then placed him in a paid internship with State Farm as a customer service agent, answering phones and reaching out to customers to remind them of due dates and pre-qualify them for insurance.

After one year working as an intern at State Farm Michael was hired on permanently. When the firm closed Michael reached out to AACF again for job finding assistance and was connected with Allies Universal where he worked in security and later with a call center for Americash Loans.

When Michael experienced unemployment in 2020 after the COVID-19 pandemic began he reached out to AACF once again and was placed in a paid internship with the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County located in the Daley Center downtown in the Chicago Loop. Working as a case filer making sure that judges have their cases for the day he enjoyed the work and applied for a permanent position in June of last year. Last month Michael received a letter offering employment with the Clerk and was excited to accept the offer.

Currently Michael is in training for his new position, learning the ins and outs of the role by visiting the various courtrooms to get the broad overview of the Daley Center. He has taken creative writing courses at Indiana State College and uses his writing skills in his new role where he will assist judges in serving people who petition to have their records expunged, cleared and sealed. He is grateful for his new position working for Cook County and is excited for growth opportunities working in the Circuit Court.

“Working with AACF has been wonderful. Chuckita is a GREAT case manager! She got me connected with who I needed to be connected with.” - Quinniazia

“I feel AACF has helped me tremendously. I wouldn’t have gotten to where I am now if it weren’t for AACF.”

- Michael

ASHANTI ASCENDING

Ashan ÊlearnedÊaboutÊAACFÊlastÊ yearÊthroughÊaÊfriendÊwhoÊwasÊaÊ clientÊinvolvedÊinÊourÊjobÊtrainingÊ programs.ÊAshan ÊvisitedÊtheÊ officeÊtoÊregisterÊandÊcompleteÊ paperworkÊandÊa endedÊtheÊCNAÊ trainingÊprogramÊonÊZoom.Ê“TheÊ staffÊwereÊveryÊniceÊandÊhelpful.Ê TheyÊmadeÊmeÊfeelÊwelcomeÊandÊ comfortable,ÊexplainingÊeverythingÊandÊhowÊtoÊgetÊstartedÊwithÊ theirÊprograms,”ÊrespondedÊ Ashan ÊwhenÊaskedÊaboutÊherÊ experienceÊatÊAACF.

Ashan Êa endedÊtheÊhybridÊCNAÊ trainingÊprogram,ÊwithÊinstruc onÊ occurringÊonÊZoomÊandÊonsiteÊ trainingÊatÊaÊlocalÊhospitalÊenablingÊpar cipantsÊtoÊgainÊhandsonÊexperience.ÊWithinÊtheÊtwoÊ monthÊCNAÊtrainingÊprogramÊ

Ashan ÊlearnedÊvariousÊwaysÊtoÊ treatÊpa entsÊinÊmedicalÊse ngsÊ andÊtheÊinÊandÊoutsÊofÊtheÊrole.Ê

A erÊcomple ngÊtheÊCNAÊtrainingÊ programÊAshan ÊwasÊplacedÊinÊaÊ jobÊwithÊCTAÊservicingÊtrainsÊforÊ threeÊmonths.

Ashan ÊresidesÊinÊHumboltÊParkÊ onÊChicago’sÊWestÊSide,ÊtheÊneighborhoodÊofÊherÊchildhood.ÊA erÊ gradua ngÊfromÊhighÊschoolÊsheÊ heldÊvariousÊcustomerÊserviceÊjobsÊ inÊretail,Êrestaurants,ÊandÊatÊcheck -inÊatÊO’HareÊairport,Êsta ngÊthatÊ thisÊwasÊherÊfavoriteÊjob,Êge ngÊ toÊmeetÊpeopleÊfromÊallÊoverÊtheÊ worldÊandÊflyingÊforÊfree.

CurrentlyÊAACFÊhasÊplacedÊAshan Ê inÊaÊroleÊinÊHomeÊHealthÊCare,Ê withÊherÊCNAÊtrainingÊassis ngÊ herÊwithÊthisÊrole.ÊWhenÊaskedÊ aboutÊhowÊsheÊlikesÊthisÊrole,Ê Ashan Êresponded,Ê“ThisÊjobÊisÊ somethingÊthatÊI’llÊs ckÊto.ÊIt’sÊ somethingÊIÊreallyÊenjoyÊdoing:Ê theÊwayÊIÊmakeÊmyÊclientÊfeel,ÊtheÊ wayÊIÊmakeÊherÊhappy.ÊThenÊI’mÊ happy.”

AsÊaÊyoungÊmotherÊofÊ25,ÊwithÊaÊ sixÊyearÊoldÊson,ÊAshan ÊsaidÊsheÊ wouldÊdefinitelyÊreachÊoutÊtoÊ AACFÊagainÊforÊfurtherÊassistanceÊ withÊjobÊtraining,ÊifÊsheÊneedsÊitÊ andÊifÊtheyÊhaveÊtrainingÊforÊherÊ ageÊlimit.

WeÊareÊgladÊyouÊcameÊtoÊus,Ê Ashan .ÊKeepÊonÊlearningÊandÊ growing!

PAID INTERNSHIPS BUILD CAREER PATHWAYS

Youth program participant Tracy found out about the AACF workforce development program when he was seeking a job to support himself as he completes his junior year in college. His AACF case manager was able to connect Tracy with a paid internship with Proviso Township in Bellwood, Illinois.

We caught up with Tracy to delve into his experiences with his internship and in his educational and career path.

How did you find out about AACF?

I found out about AACF through a friend of mine, Maya. She was previously a part of this program.

What was the orientation process like for you? What did you learn about?

The orientation process eased a lot of my nerves. I didn’t really understand exactly what AACF was until that process, so I learned a lot about their mission statement and what their help meant exactly.

What jobs have you held in the past (during high school, summers, etc.)?

My first job was a pizza maker at Home Run Inn Pizzeria, after that I worked for 3 years at the Forest Park Community Center as childcare staff.

What job(s) did your case manager Chuckita Smith match you with?

Chuckita managed to successfully match me with my current job as an intern at Proviso Township.

What are your duties as College and Career Specialist for Proviso Township?

My duties as a College and Career Specialist include: matching youth and young adults with academic and educational opportunities, providing daycares with supplies for vision and

hearing, and attending community events to advocate on behalf of Proviso Township.

Are you currently enrolled in a junior college or four year university? Which one? What year are you in? Course of study? Future career goals?

Yes, currently I am attending Triton College as a Philosophy and Logic major as a junior. I am hoping to one day attend Northwestern Law School to practice being a Civil Attorney.

Does your current role with Proviso Township align in any way with your current line of study and/or future career goals? - Or help you with formulating your future career goals?

Yes! It is very helpful to be working in a local government setting because it has a similar feel to what I’ll be doing as a profession. My courses of study are social sciences and I feel as if these are crucial to be outstanding in the profession I’ve chosen.

Would/have you told any of your friends/family about the AACF workforce development program?

Yes! I would recommend this program to someone attempting to get their foot in the door to be matched with a job that is right for them.

Anything else you would like to add about the AACF workforce development program and your experiences working together with Chuckita Smith?

I would like to state once again how grateful I am for the opportunity to be here. Thank you to Chuckita, Tami, and all the other amazing individuals who helped me get here!

We are grateful to Tracy for reaching out to us and proud of his hard work in his internship with Proviso Township. We wish him the best of luck in his educational and career pathway. Keep up the hard work Tracy!

WE CONGRATULATE NAKIYA!

Congratula onsÊtoÊNakiyaÊforÊherÊnewÊjobÊposi onÊasÊCer fiedÊNurseÊAssistantÊ(CNA)!ÊNakiyaÊjoinedÊtheÊAACFÊYouthÊWorkforceÊDevelopmentÊProgramÊinÊAprilÊandÊpoweredÊthroughÊtheÊprogram,ÊreceivingÊfinancialÊaidÊtoÊcoverÊhalfÊtheÊcostÊofÊherÊ CNAÊtraining.ÊSheÊtookÊtheÊstateÊboardÊexamÊandÊreceivedÊherÊCNAÊlicenseÊandÊlandedÊaÊgreatÊjobÊinÊaÊChicagoÊsuburbÊlastÊ month.

NakiyaÊlearnedÊaboutÊtheÊAACFÊYouthÊWorkforceÊDevelopmentÊProgramÊfromÊaÊfriendÊwhoÊbenefi edÊfromÊtheÊprogramÊ earlierÊinÊtheÊyear.ÊSheÊcalledÊtheÊofficeÊandÊwasÊassignedÊtoÊcaseÊmanagerÊChuckitaÊwhoÊfirstÊwalkedÊherÊthroughÊtheÊintakeÊ processÊofÊfillingÊoutÊpaperworkÊandÊthenÊenrolledÊherÊinÊworkforceÊdevelopmentÊclassesÊonÊZoom.ÊChuckitaÊhelpedÊNakiyaÊ withÊfindingÊCNAÊtrainingÊandÊsubmi ngÊallÊofÊtheÊpaperworkÊtoÊbeginÊherÊclassesÊonÊ meÊtoÊbegin.

PreviousÊemploymentÊforÊNakiyaÊhasÊincludedÊworkingÊasÊaÊpackageÊhandlerÊatÊAmazonÊandÊinÊtheÊapparelÊsec onÊatÊ WalmartÊandÊTarget.ÊSheÊdidÊnotÊalwaysÊenjoyÊtheseÊjobsÊbutÊsheÊmadeÊitÊthroughÊandÊworkedÊhardÊatÊherÊCNAÊclassesÊsoÊ thatÊsheÊcouldÊstartÊherÊcareerÊinÊhealthcare.InÊherÊCNAÊroleÊNakiyaÊassistsÊnursesÊandÊworksÊwithÊtheÊpa entsÊmobility,Ê meals,Êbathing,ÊandÊdailyÊrecrea onalÊac vi esÊsuchÊasÊplayingÊbingoÊandÊsocializing. “I love helping others!” - Nakiya NakiyaÊlovesÊworkingÊinÊhealthcareÊandÊisÊexcitedÊtoÊcon nueÊonÊherÊcareerÊpath.ÊSheÊhasÊgoalsÊofÊcon nuingÊgainingÊcer fica onsÊinÊphlebotomyÊandÊsonographyÊandÊwouldÊconsiderÊbecomingÊaÊRegisteredÊNurseÊasÊsheÊcon nuesÊgrowingÊinÊherÊ profession.ÊGratefulÊforÊtheÊprogram,ÊNakiyaÊwouldÊreferÊfriendsÊandÊfamilyÊmembersÊifÊtheyÊneededÊhelpÊwithÊjobÊtrainingÊ andÊworkforceÊdevelopment.

A STRONG START TO A NEW CAREER

Congratulations to Ayanna for recently receiving her Pharmacy Technician license and certification. We are proud of all that you have accomplished!

Ayanna has created a strong start on her chosen career path after having learned of AACF’s workforce development program just a couple of months ago. She joined AACF’s youth workforce development program after learning about the organization from Ms. Matilda, her instructor at Info Trainers pharmacy tech school. After receiving a Zoom link for an AACF orientation from Ms. Matilda, Abrianna attended and learned about the youth workforce development program. Shortly after Chuckita Smith, a case manager at AACF, reached out to her.

Working together with Chuckita, Ayanna was placed in a one month paid internship with Proviso Township. She enjoyed the office work and loved the staff. Additionally, she was able to choose her work schedule which allowed her to continue with her classes at the pharmacy tech school. Ayanna is soon to complete her pharmacy tech training. She was advised to apply for her license and certification early as that will enable to seek a job immediately after completing her course work.

As a 21 year old single mother of a four year old, Ayanna’s goal is a stable career.

She lives independently in her own apartment and needs to provide for herself and her son. She has worked at McDonald’s, as a home healthcare provider, and in security. In those jobs Ayanna experienced a combination of poor employee treatment, part time hours, and poor working environment, including receiving late paychecks, harassment, and even being threatened on the job. In order to provide a healthy home for herself and her son she will need full time work with healthcare benefits.

Ayanna has already received her pharmacy tech license and certification and is within days of finishing her classes. She will then need to complete a two week internship at a Walgreens of her choice and then she will be out on the job market to start her career as a pharmacy technician.

Ayanna has told her friends about the AACF youth workforce development program, and she is very grateful for Case Manager Chuckita, in her own words: “with helping me - I told her that my life was too much, too stressful. Chuckita is great. We talk about more than AACFshe checks up on me and my well-being. We talk 2-3 times per week.”

We are glad that you found us Ayanna. Keep up the great work and kudos on your new career!

“I appreciate AACF for the training they provided to help me prepare to start class and for helping me to pay for my classes.” - Nakiya

“AACF really helped me, from pharmacy tech classes to the internship. I am really, really thankful for Chuckita - she is a great and genuine person.”

- Ayanna

ON THE FAST-TRACK TO SUCCESS

A few weeks ago Brittany Winbush’s mother found a flyer in her neighborhood for an AACF sponsored job fair. Brittany attended the job fair, made contact with Tami Yarbrough, AACF Program Development Director, and followed up with phone calls and texts. Brittany submitted program participant onboarding paperwork and completed an online interest inventory - which told her what she already knew about herself: she enjoys business and working with math and calculations. Brittany has her Bachelors of Science degree in Accounting from the University of Illinois at Champaign Urbana, Illinois, and has worked for a family construction company for the payroll department for the past two years. AACF staff quickly recognized her potential and fast-tracked her to an internship with the organization. In just three short weeks into the internship she has acquired the reputation for being of high intelligence, reliable, dependable, and detail oriented.

One of the many things Brittany enjoys about interning with AACF, a relatively small not-for-profit, is the ability to learn about many different aspects of the business and to try out her hand at different tasks. She has enjoyed learning about the ins and outs of supportive services and elements of non profit fundraising, as well as learning QuickBooks on the job to assist with AACF accounting. But what Brittany enjoys most about her AACF internship is helping the clients. She has assisted with matching clients with existing job openings and with keeping track of payroll. Britney has also helped program participants with their onboarding paperwork, polishing their resumes, and applying to various work programs.

BLACK HEALTH AND WELLNESS

Black health and wellness was this year’s theme for Black History Month, during the month of February, shining light on Black contributions to the field of health and wellness and also commemorating the ways in which Blacks have stayed well throughout the course of Black history in the US.

There are numerous documented and undocumented accounts of Black contributions to the field of health and wellness in the US. Documented on the African American Policy Forum (AAPF) website are several Black contributors to the history of medicine. Here are three of them:

1783: James Durham was born into slavery in 1762. He learned how to read, write and work with patients from several physicians who owned him throughout his childhood, and came to New Orleans in 1783. Eventually, he bought his freedom and opened a medical practice in the city, where he cared for patients of all racial backgrounds. Although he did not have a formal medical degree, Durham was successful in treating patients with diphtheria, and saved a high number of patients who experienced yellow fever during an outbreak in 1789.

1864: Rebecca Lee Crumpler, M.D. becomes the first Black woman physician in the United States after earning her degree from the New England Female Medical College in Boston. Nineteen years later, she published the Book of Medical Disclosures, a volume of medical advice for women and children.

1939: Charles Drew, M.D. a surgeon, discovers that blood plasma can be dried and reconstituted when needed, making it an effective substitute for whole blood transfusions. He developed ways to process and preserve plasma in “blood banks,” a procedure that saved the lives of countless American soldiers during World War II and in later conflicts.

(AAFP, February 5, 2021)

The history of Black Health and Wellness also commemorates how Blacks stayed healthy in the face of racial inequality from the time of slavery up until present day. Early on Blacks used natural medicine as treatment when barred from White hospitals and medical clinics. And later after the 13th Amendment to the US Constitution outlawed slavery in 1855, Blacks joined together and Cont. on page 7

PROGRAM PARTNERS

“My internship with AACF has been short of amazing. Overall I have learned a lot during my internship about the not-for profit world and how to service clients and community." - Brittany

Cont. from page 6: formed organizations such as the African Union Society, National Association of Colored Women, and Black Panther Party to establish community health clinics serving Blacks. More recently in the 21st century, advances in Black health have included mental health initiatives and preventative health care focusing on physical exercise, nutrition, and positive mental health.

Since COVID-19 has impacted Blacks most out of any other racial group in this country, now more than ever is the time to shine the light on Black health and wellness. What we can do to help: support organizations that work to equalize healthcare for all groups: blacks, minorities, and low income; also support organizations like AACF whose mission it is to raise the economic level of low income blacks and other minorities. Awareness is the first step when addressing any issue. We can follow the example of our Black community members: and join together to address inequality and create a better and just world for all.

More on Black History Month:

Prior Black History Month themes include: The Black Family: Representation, Identity, and Diversity (2021), African Americans and the Vote (2020), Black Migrations (2019), African Americans in Times of War (2018), and The Crises in Black Education (2017). Themes date back to 1928 when Negro History week was established in 1926, evolving into Black History Month in 1976. Negro History week was celebrated during the second week of February (both Abraham Lincoln’s and Frederick Douglass’ birthdays fall during this week), with a flurry of educational activities in schools, embracing Black art, culture, history, and contributions to this country and the world. The struggle for racial equality was also brought to light during this time. The Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) pressed the US federal government to declare a national month: Black History Month and succeeded in February 1976 marking the first Black History Month.

References

AAPF (February 5, 2021). Honoring Black Americans’ Contributions to Medicine. https://www.aafp.org/news/insideaafp/20210205bhmtimeline.html

2021

REVENUE* AND EXPENSES*

Total Revenue and Support…………$960,604

Program Services Expenses………...$845,333

Management and General…………...$ 52,815

Outreach & Development…………….$ 33,717

Total Expenses……………………….…..$931,866

ASSETS AND LIABILITIES*

Total Current Assets………………….$315,466

Fixed Assets…………………………....$215,542

Total Assets……………………………..$530,989

Total Current Liabilities…………...$95,017

Long Term Liabilities………………...$29,023

Total Liabilities…………………………$246,822

Change in Net Assets………………...$ 284,166

Total Liability and Net Assets……..$530,989

OUR MISSION

Our mission is to train and assist lowincome residents of Cook County, enable them to acquire skills, while actively fostering economic opportunity and communal stability.

CORE VALUES

Education: We believe that education is power and a matter of economic freedom for our youth program participants.

Dignity of Work: We believe in the value of work, investing in human capital can create endless possibilities.

Collaboration: We create and support partnerships and engage local and regional partners to ensure our programs continued success.

Innovation: We design and implement initiatives and use creative solutions to workforce challenges.

African American Christian Foundation 6707 W North Ave Oak Park, IL 60302

Phone: 708-848-1700

Fax: 708-848-3701

Website: www.aacfworks.org

Mailing Address Line 1

Mailing Address Line 2

Mailing Address Line 3

Mailing Address Line 4

Mailing Address Line 5