Casa Central and its School Age program hosted its tenth annual Peace March and Rally against violence. The event was held on Thursday, June 26th at the east end of Humboldt Park, several neighborhood based youth groups sent children and teens to the march to exhibit a united front for a peaceful community.

The march covered five blocks within the park, moving from Division Street and California Avenue to North Avenue and Francisco Street. Over 500 children and adults participated in the march and the rally, where the Jesse White Tumblers performed to the crowd’s delight. Field games, DJ music, lunch and refreshments added excitement to the event.

Ann R. Alvarez, President and CEO of Casa Central, said the participants in the march and rally shouldn’t lose sight of the main message. “We have a lot of fun, but we’re also declaring that we want a community where it’s safe to play in the park and walk down the street in peace,” Alvarez said. Casa Central's School-Age program, La Posada After-School Activities Program, Youth Options Unlimited, and Head Start programs are involved in planning and co-hosting the Peace March and Rally.

Participants in social service programs at Casa Central will be looking for a place in their homes for quality art. Casa Central hosted a benefit art exhibit on June 29th, featuring works donated through Jump-start Art, a local non-profit organization.

The exhibit was held at Casa Central’s Bitia Alfonso Auditorium. More than 50 sculptures, paintings and other works of art were made available to Casa Central, courtesy of Jump-start Art. Beneficiaries include families who live at La Posada, the transitional housing facility for homeless families managed by Casa Central, and families served by the ABC Home Based Head Start program.

As a non-profit organization, Jump-start Art is devoted to giving gifts of art to individuals who have struggled to overcome obstacles in their lives in order to create a home. Among those are people who have not had the opportunity to buy original art work for their home.

Artists donate art work to Jump-start Art, which facilitates the delivery of the work to recipients through private and public community agencies throughout the Chicago area.

"I'm so impressed by this concept of reaching out to families who may not have the resources to obtain quality art like this," said Ann R. Alvarez, President of Casa Central, in her remarks to those at the exhibit.

The 26th Annual Telethon to support Casa Central has generated more than $113,000 in donations and pledges to date.

The five-hour event was televised on WSNS-TV Telemundo Chicago on Sunday, April 13th. Dozens of corporate sponsors appeared on live television to deliver their contributions. “We’re so grateful to the many people who, with their donations, support our mission of transforming lives,” said Ann R. Alvarez, President of Casa Central and co-host of the Telethon.

Alvarez said Casa Central is still accepting pledges and donations at the organization’s resource development department, at (773) 645-2478. “Every dollar counts so please call us today,” Alvarez added. In its history, the Telethon has added thousands of dollars to its final balance in the weeks following the broadcast.

Proceeds from the event support the operation of the 54-year-old social service organization, recognized as the largest of its kind in the Midwest. Casa Central delivers 23 programs ranging from pre-school day care (Head Start) to home care for older adults and support services for foster families.

Wednesday, October 22nd Annual Awards Dinner, featuring recipients of the Corporate Partner, Community Builder, and Faith-in-Action Awards. The Dinner is co-chaired by Ellen Costello, CEO, Harris Bank; Frank Clark, CEO, ComEd; and Jorge Cavero, M.D., Member of the Board of Directors. Four Seasons Hotel, Chicago. For information: Lorena Levy-Alonso, (773) 645-2476.

The teens from Youth Options Unlimited (Y.O.U.) and their youth theater club, Teatro Juvenil, returned to the stage with its annual summer production. The program’s participants created That Three-Letter Word, a sensitive interpretation of the struggles young people experience with romantic relationships.

The production was the subject of praise and applause from hundreds in attendance on May 29th, 30th and 31st at Casa Central’s Bitia Alfonso Auditorium, 1335 North California Avenue.

This year’s production with a cast of nine incorporated monologues, music and dance as theatrical elements, according to Eva Green, acting coach for the Teatro Juvenil troupe this season.

Teatro Juvenil is the signature activity for Y.O.U. The program helps youth to develop and maintain healthy lifestyles by engaging them in constructive activities after school hours.