Block Party Will Deliver Fun, Resources to Little Village Families

Residents of Chicago’s South Lawndale/Little Village community will be able to access free resources and information during a Community Wellness Fair and Back-to-School Block Party organized by Erie Neighborhood House.

The event is scheduled for Saturday, August 18, from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm on the 4200 block of W 25th Street (between S Keeler Ave and S Kildare Ave); admission is free.

Kids will enjoy a bounce house, face painting and other fun games and activities to promote wellness. In addition, backpacks and school supplies will be distributed to attendees thanks to a generous gift from the James F. Mikulski Memorial Group.

Erie House will also be joined by several community organizations and local businesses, all on hand to distribute free information and resources to attendees. A complete list of vendors is available at www.eriehouse.org/wellnessfair.

“We want to make sure that we do as much as we can to connect people to the services they need,” says Cristina De La Rosa, director of adult programs at Erie House. “We can’t just assume that the community is aware or that they have access and are eligible to receive them.”

“We want to make sure that we do as much as we can to connect people to the services they need.”

– Cristina De La Rosa, Director of Adult Programs

Erie House delivers a variety of programming from its Little Village center, including counseling, violence prevention, youth mentoring, nutrition education, affordable housing information, immigration legal consultations and classes for adult learners.

This holistic approach is key to the agency’s efforts to support wellness for individuals and families residing in the community.

“When we think of wellness, we don’t just think of physical health,” says De La Rosa, who has worked with Erie House in the South Lawndale/Little Village neighborhood for the past 6 years. “We include mental, financial and social health as well.”

For more information about the Community Wellness Fair and Back-to-School Block Party or to become a vendor at the event, please visit www.eriehouse.org/wellnessfair.