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Pioneer Gardens Senior Housing
Distance: 1.4 Mi3800 S King Dr
60653 Chicago -
Childlink
Distance: 3.2 Mi1100 W Cermak Rd Ste B404
60608 Chicago -
Southwest Organizing Proj
Distance: 3.6 Mi2609 W 63rd St
60629 Chicago -
Hoop Stars
Distance: 5.3 Mi3600 W Ogden
60623 Chicago -
South East Asia Center
Distance: 11.3 Mi1134 W Ainslie St
60640 Chicago
Website Links
Description
One of the premier social service agencies in the nation, Firman Community Services was founded in November 1872 as an outreach mission of the Clinton Street Church, Harrison Street Mission, and 12th Street Mission. From these three organizations, the Ewing Street Congregational Church was founded and the outreach mission moved to the old river ward on Chicago's West Side. Over a period of time, Ewing's congregation began to falter. So in 1910, the Second Church of Oak Park, assisted by the Chicago Missionary Society, continued the missionary work and enacted measures to formalize their efforts. Ewing parishioner Douglas Winfield Firman took on the work so enthusiastically that both a church and the mission unit were named in his honor. On November 11, 1927, "Firman House" became a structured, self-identified agency, complete with a constitution. As such, Firman Community Services is the oldest settlement house in Illinois and the second oldest in the United States. At the turn of the century, Firman was again at the forefront of providing service -- first with European immigrants and later with Southern African-American migrants. As large waves of these groups began moving to Chicago to take advantage of industrial jobs, promises of freedom and a "better life," Firman acted as a catalyst to help these newcomers become acclimated to the city through transitional housing, health, and employment support as well as educational programs...