Our story

A Ministry of Accompaniment

We offer companionship and personal attention to people who have difficulty finding their way in a complex social services system. We collaborate with services in the city, we listen to our clients and then connect them with the resources they need. A Compañero/a makes social services more accessible.

Early beginnings...

2005

Sr. Carol Crepeau and Sr. Kathy Brazda of the Congregation of St. Joseph and Rev. Robert Casey met in the Little Village neighborhood of Chicago to begin the CSJ tradition of discerning with the community (the dear neighbor) the most pressing needs.

2006

To connect people to services and services to people, an advisory board consisting of community members was established. It was made up of the staff of Our Lady of Tepeyac Parish and friends and associates of the Congregation of St. Joseph.

2007

After our co-founders and other stakeholders developed the concept of a ministry of accompaniment, Sr. Kathy was hired as the Executive Director and worked to build support for the ministry of accompaniment and lay a foundation for all that would follow.

2008

Taller de José opened its doors on September 8th, with a staff of three Compañeras. During the first year of operation, the formation of important community partnerships enabled the staff to accompany 150 individuals in their search for resources.

Our Work So Far...

Zip Codes Served

Clients Served

Offsite Accompaniments

Activities to Support Clients

Community Partner Organizations

The Journey Continues

2010

Taller de José became a separately incorporated non-profit and its Advisory board transitioned into a Board of Directors. It also became a sponsored ministry of the Congregation of St. Joseph and opened a satellite office at St. Agnes of Bohemia.

2013

Expanded office space was necessary to meet the needs of the growing ministry. In September of 2013, Taller de José officially opened it’s new offices next to Assumption, BVM parish.

2019

In partnership with the Quinn Center of St. Eulalia, Taller de José launched a pilot project to offer accompaniment services out of their location in Maywood, IL, expanding our reach to communities in the western suburbs of Cook County.

TODAY

Taller de José serves nearly 1,000 individuals each year in collaboration with over 100 partner organizations. We also participate in the collective impact work of community networks, including the Marshall Square Resource Network and others.

Our Vision

At Taller de José, our values and mission of accompaniment are rooted in the charism of the Congregation of St. Joseph and the principles of Catholic Social Teaching; the call to accompany our neighbors, especially immigrant communities, is based in a rich heritage of Scripture and the teaching of the Catholic Church. We seek to live out our call to support, serve, and advocate with our clients by walking alongside them. We also believe that accompaniment encourages greater mutual understanding, promotes the human dignity of every person, and has the opportunity to create leadership opportunities for directly impacted communities.

By fostering the model of accompaniment, Taller de José:

Challenges social structure in order to create a culture of inclusivity and mutuality.

Creates, maintains, and supports just relationships with individuals and organizations.

Seeks to create systemic change to promote a more just and equitable society.

Cultivates a consciousness of the inherent worth of each person.

As a member of the Congregation of St. Joseph Mission Network, Taller de José is committed to the CSJ’s Generous Promises and Sacred Work. For more information on these guiding principles of the Congregation of St. Joseph Mission Network, click here.