Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Future of Health Care

The future of health care is all about "networks" and "outcomes".  Although Commons is not a traditional "medical" organization, we can help improve health outcomes.

Together4Health is a new network of groups that are going to be part of an experiment to work with 1,000 patients to improve health outcomes while also reducing health care expenditures.  See article in Crains.

Chicago Commons Home Care and Adult Day Care will play a role in this creative effort.  It is going to be journey and we are going to learn a lot..  join us and follow along!






Monday, October 15, 2012

Exercise Your Rights!

Voting is such a fundamental right, one that we must not take for granted!

No matter your political persuasion, please take the time to vote.

At the end of September, during National Voter Registration Day, Chicago Commons registered 25 new voters at the Nia Family Center and Adult Education and Training Center (ETC).

It is not too late to register to vote, registration locations can be found here.

And early voting is underway also, location look up here.

Thursday, October 11, 2012

Never too early


La Casa is a new student dormitory for first generation college students located in the Pilsen neighborhood.  It is right across from the Commons' Guadalupano Center and was built by our partner, the Resurrection Project.  It is a new model for college housing that is drawing national attention.

And today, children from Guadalupano presented college flags to Governor Quinn at the opening, showing that it is never too early to start thinking about college!

Thursday, October 4, 2012

Post Strike

Great story on WBEZ today on how the teacher strike is resulting in more collaboration among teachers.  Though sad to think this hasn't been the norm at schools.  There is something fundamental missing in the way our public education systems are structured.

An active dialogue among teachers is absolutely crucial to creating a dynamic, effective educational environment.  At Commons, we are very clear about the need for teachers to meet, dialogue and plan together.  It is a job requirement!  And it also makes this work a joy.

Hopefully more of this collaborative spirit will continue to spread in the public schools near our pre-schools.  Our dream, yet unrealized, is that we engage in ongoing dialogue between our pre-schools and the teachers at the nearby schools.  We have had some interesting moves in this direction during the year .. including the early educator summit we did in West Humboldt Park.

Hope this trend in teacher collaboration continues to grow!