Chicago Commons

Founded by Graham Taylor in 1894, Chicago Commons was one of Chicago’s original settlement houses serving immigrants on Chicago’s northwest side and opened one of the city’s earliest kindergartens in 1897. Soon after, and for the next 128+ years, Chicago Commons has offered programs for individuals of all ages through clubs and classes, and provided an open forum for discussion of local community events. Since 2019, Be Strong Families has been engaged to offer professional development workshops to assist the organization with enhancing its strength-based, trauma-informed and family-centered workforce, including multiple deliveries of Recognizing and Responding to Signs of Family Stress, Art of Parent Engagement, Reducing Toxic Stress by Living the Protective Factors, and Communicating with Families to over 120 participants.