As I near the completion of my first month volunteering at Taller de José, it is amazing to think of how many diverse cases I have faced with clients in such a short amount of time. This past month has shown me how the ministry of accompaniment impacts our clients and the way that we…
DetailsOn days when he does not have dialysis, Raul often stops by to see his compañera. He always greets us with a warm handshake and asks if his companera is around before slowly making his way up the stairs. A year ago, he was concerned that he would not be able to get treatment for…
DetailsOn June 24th, Taller de José partnered with Catholic Charities and A Night Out to provide a night of fun to women who have suffered from domestic violence. Taller de José often works with domestic violence victims who continue to carry heavy burdens in their lives. A Night Out provides these women with a brief…
DetailsIn some cases, clients come to Taller for a single visit, receive the support and referrals they need, and do not need to return. In other cases, Taller has longstanding relationships with clients that last for years. Mariela and Gabriel are two of those clients, and their stories are indicative of the courage and strength…
DetailsLike many of Taller de José’s clients, Fortino was referred in April 2013 by his parish priest; when an individual turns to their church for assistance, they are often referred to Taller de José if their needs are outside the bounds of what the parish can provide. In Forino’s case, he was facing criminal charges…
Details“We want to care for our son,” shared Felipe Gonzalez when explaining to the compañera at Taller de José why he and his wife were seeking legal guardianship for their son with Down Syndrome. Like many of Taller de José’s clients the Gonazlez family came for assistance in providing a healthy, stable enivornment for their children. One…
DetailsTo celebrate and honor the journeys that our compañeras and clients make together, a team of ten runners accompanied one another to the finish line of a half marathon on April 26 of this year. As they faced the challenges of running 13.1 miles, they remembered the challenges our clients face—language barriers, fear and discrimination, immigration…
Details“Who was the first President of the United States?” “What Ocean is on the West Coast of the United States?” “How many U.S. Senators are there?” Most of the office could hear these questions echoing down the hall (in Spanish) as one of the compañeras helped a client prepare for his United States Citizenship exam…
DetailsIt was a typical day working as a compañera with Taller de José; however, instead of going into the office to accompany a particular client, I went to 101 W Congress Parkway to stand with mothers and fathers, sons and daughters, friends and community members who have been deeply affected by our current immigration policies. …
DetailsBefore the start of this Lenten season, I had the opportunity to share the mission of Taller de José with my neighborhood of South Chicago. Together with another staff member, I went to Immaculate Conception Grade School and presented a project of accompaniment to its students. The project was to invite these students to accompany…
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