By Ali McCandless, Jesuit Volunteer But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:31 As a Jesuit Volunteer, we use the phrase, “ruined for life” to describe our year of…
DetailsMarco* originally came to Taller de José because he had received notices from Social Security that he was having difficulty understanding. After reviewing the letters with Marco, a compañero from Taller de José also learned that Marco was entitled to receive pension and retirement benefits from his union, but Marco was unsure how to access…
DetailsBy Hillary Buzaid It was a beautiful Monday morning, and I was going to meet my client Rosa* for an accompaniment to the Mexican Consulate to start the process of getting a consular ID. Rosa completely lost her vision thirteen years ago after complications from a medical procedure stemming from a brain infection. Rosa came…
DetailsBy Megan Monahan (pictured at left accompanying a client) “If you have come here to help me, you are wasting your time. But if you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together.” -Lilla Watson When I share that I am studying social work, people often ask, “So you…
DetailsBy Maria Post Laura is a survivor. She survived the dangerous trip to the United States from Mexico, seeking opportunity for her family and freedom from the cartel violence plaguing her home state. She survived her husband’s abuse and constant belittling of her, and she found the courage to start counseling at an agency serving…
DetailsBy Roberto Martinez, Amate House Volunteer By many standards, I’m very new to Chicago. I’ve spent 8 months here so far, and my first Chicago winter barely counts as winter (not complaining). It amazes me, however, how much more of Chicago I’ve seen than many of my clients who have lived here for decades. For…
DetailsBy Sr. Sheila O’Brien Often I would drive by a church of another domination on my way to work, and it seemed that the entire front was made of dark glass. But only when I attended a funeral there, did I get to see the incredible resplendent multihued beauty inside of the stained glass windows.…
DetailsBy Esther Uriostegui In addition to its primarily mission of connecting individuals to resources via accompaniment, Taller de José also serves as a welcoming community to university students like me to have a multicultural and interfaith experience. As a student from Dominican University majoring in Business and Theology, I was introduced to a special opportunity that…
DetailsThe following video was created in 2015 to celebrate the ministry of accompaniment. Watch to learn more about the mission and hear clients tell their stories in their own words! You can also use the following link to see the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGz6MjOfscg
DetailsJulia may win the award for having come the farthest distance to visit Taller de José; she currently lives in Puerto Rico. But when Julia heard that her son had been incarcerated in Chicago, she knew that she needed to visit and see what she could do to help. When Julia first met with her…
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