Center for Changing Lives

🎲 Game Night Fundraiser is About 1 Month Away!

Join us on July 30 from 7:00-10:00 PM for an evening of laughter, friendly competition, and community, all while supporting Center for Changing Lives!

Hosted at Avondale Bowl and powered by the fun of Games on Taproom, this is game night, leveled up.

Your ticket to play? A donation of just $5 minimum.
Want to give a little more? Every dollar helps. Donate $10, $50, $500, or any amount that feels right for you!

Best of all, 100% of proceeds benefit Center for Changing Lives, helping individuals and families build financial stability and mobility.

Bring your friends, have a blast, and make a difference one game at a time.

📅 July 30 | 7:00-10:00 PM | Avondale Bowl-3118 N Milwaukee Ave

Can't make it? You can still support the cause by making a donation at linktr.ee/cclchicago.

🎉 We were honored to join community leaders, residents, and partners in celebrating the ribbon cutting of La Placita in Logan Square on June 22nd, with our President & CEO, Juliana Gonzalez-Crussi, representing Center for Changing Lives.

La Placita is more than a new public space. It is a powerful investment in community, culture, and connection. By creating a welcoming place for neighbors to gather, local businesses to thrive, and cultural traditions to be celebrated, this project reflects the values that make Logan Square such a vibrant and resilient community.

At CCL, we believe thriving communities are built not only through access to opportunity, but through spaces where people can connect, share ideas, support local commerce, and strengthen their sense of belonging. La Placita embodies that vision and honors the rich Latin American heritage that continues to shape Logan Square.

Congratulations to everyone whose vision, advocacy, and partnership brought this transformative project to life. We look forward to seeing culture, commerce, and community flourish in this new gathering place for generations to come.

🌳🏘️💛

🏡 Dreaming of owning a home in Chicago?

The new HomeGrown Purchase Assistance Program may help eligible homebuyers receive up to $70,000 in down payment and closing cost assistance!

As a HUD-approved Housing Counseling Agency, Center for Changing Lives (CCL) helps future homeowners prepare for success through housing counseling and homebuyer education. Our workshops cover budgeting, credit, mortgage financing, the home search process, and the responsibilities of homeownership.

📅 First-Time Homebuyer Workshop
🗓 Saturday, July 18
⏰ 9:30 AM - 4:30 PM
📍 South Chicago Public Library

✅ Completing CCL's workshop fulfills the homebuyer education requirement for the HomeGrown program and provides the certification needed for many down payment assistance programs.

✨ Whether you're just beginning your homeownership journey or ready to take the next step, we're here to help.

⚠️ Space is limited and registration is required. Don't wait!

🔗 Register today: linktr.ee/cclchicago

Happy Father's Day! 💙

Today, we celebrate the fathers, grandfathers, stepfathers, mentors, and father figures who lead with strength, kindness, and care.

We celebrate your love, humility and compassion.

Thank you for the encouragement you give, the sacrifices you make, and the example you set for our families and communities every day.

¡Feliz Día del Padre! 💙

Hoy celebramos a los padres, abuelos, padrastros, mentores y figuras paternas que lideran con fortaleza, bondad y dedicación.

Celebramos su amor, humildad y compasión.

Gracias por el apoyo que brindan, los sacrificios que hacen y el ejemplo que dan a nuestras familias y comunidades cada día.

🌟🤝 This week, CCL President & CEO Juliana González-Crussi proudly represented Center for Changing Lives at the Hispanic Federation Midwest Encuentro in Milwaukee! 🎉

The gathering brought together nonprofit leaders, advocates, and community partners from across the Midwest to strengthen connections, share ideas, and advance opportunities for Latino communities. 🌎✨

We were honored to hear from Frank Miranda, President & CEO of Hispanic Federation, and Cavalier Johnson, Mayor of Milwaukee, whose remarks highlighted the importance of collective action, advocacy, and investment in our communities. 🏘️📈

Juliana also connected with Hispanic Federation's Midwest team, including Sian Du'Prey, Midwest Program Director, and Roberto Valdez, Midwest Policy Director, as well as fellow community leaders and partners, including Alexandra Sossa, CEO of the Farmworker and Landscaper Advocacy Project - FLAP. 🤝💬

These opportunities to learn, collaborate, and strengthen relationships help advance our shared vision of thriving communities where everyone has access to opportunity and support. 💙💛

Thank you to Hispanic Federation for convening leaders from across the region and creating space for meaningful dialogue, partnership, and action. 🙌🏽✨

🌟🤝💼📣

In honor of Juneteenth, we continually reflect on the long and ongoing journey toward freedom, justice, and Black liberation.

🖤❤️💚 Here are a few powerful reminders of what freedom means:
"Freedom is not something that one people can bestow on another as a gift. They claim it as their own and none can keep it from them."
— Kwame Nkrumah

"Juneteenth symbolizes the hope that my children and grandchildren will be free. It’s Black joy and Black tenacity to survive.”
— Tanesha Grant

"Whether it’s freedom to express, freedom to live, freedom to earn, freedom to thrive, freedom to learn—whatever it is—I want to make sure that I’m a part of these spaces and opening doors.”
— Angela Rye

At Center for Changing Lives, we honor Juneteenth by continuing the daily work of advancing freedom, equity, and joy. Justice may be delayed, but it cannot be denied!

We were proud to join our partners at United Way of Metro Chicago, Claretian Associates, Inc., and TechRise by P33 for the Sweet Home South Chicago Pitch Competition and Vendor Marketplace on June 13! 🙌

The event brought together local entrepreneurs, community leaders, and supporters to celebrate innovation, small business growth, and economic opportunity on Chicago's South Side.

Congratulations to all of the founders who pitched their businesses and showcased their products and services. 🎉 A special congratulations to Melissa Perez of Miel 85 Collective, winner of the pitch competition and founder of a creative co-working space designed to support entrepreneurs and artists.

We are honored to be part of the South Chicago community. There is so much power, talent, resilience, and joy in this neighborhood, and we're grateful to work alongside partners who are investing in local entrepreneurs and creating pathways to economic opportunity.

📸 More photos and reels coming soon!

📸 Photos provided by P33 Chicago / A&D Media Group, Inc.

📣 EVENT UPDATE 📣

Our Headshot Marathon with Sylk Martí Studios originally scheduled for June 28 has been postponed.

We’re excited to bring this opportunity to our community and are currently working to confirm a new date. Stay tuned for updates coming soon!

✨ Support Center for Changing Lives' mission to create pathways to economic opportunity and financial stability

Thank you for your patience and support. We look forward to seeing you at the rescheduled event! If you would like to make a donation to CCL today, head to linktr.ee/cclchicago!

Learn what’s included in a credit report, how credit scores are calculated, and how everyday financial decisions impact your credit over time.
You will also learn about common credit myths, how to spot errors, and practical steps to start building or improving your credit safely and sustainably.

📅 Monday, June 22nd
🕒 2PM-4PM
📍 Galter Life Center – 5157 N Francisco, Chicago, IL or via Zoom

💼 Offered in partnership with Swedish Hospital (Healthcare Transformative Collaboratives), our free workshops empower you to take control of your financial future!

👉 Your financial wellness is possible!📲 Sign up at linktr.ee/cclchicago

Hello powerful community💫!
‼️Please note that we have closed registration for our First-Time Homebuyer Workshop for this Saturday, June 20th at Bucktown-Wicker Park Public Library.
🏠We will offer more First-Time Homebuyer Workshops soon and appreciate the opportunity to journey with you as your reach your goal of becoming a first-time homebuyer.
❣️If you have any questions, or need further information about our HUD-Approved Housing Counseling work, please reach out to us at [email protected] or call us at 773-342-6210.