Another service of hydepark.org and Hyde Park-Kenwood Community Conference

Hyde Park Neighborhood Club programs

 

Hyde Park-Kenwood Community Conference is pleased to help make known the many programs and events at Hyde Park Neighborhood Club- premier service provider and socializing venue in the neighborhood since 1909! Kicking off its centennial celebration and fundraising.

5480 S. Kenwood, 773 643-4062. Executive Director- interim Jennifer Bosch jennifer_bosch@hpnclub.org; President Karen Freeman.

The Club is now enaged in a critical fundraising drive so it can serve families, youth, and seniors into the next century. Contact Jennifer Bosch or Karen Freeman at 773 643-4062 or http://www.hpnclub.org.

May 3, Saturday, 12:30 pm Older Women's League held an open meeting with board and friends of the Neighborhood Club at the Neighborhood Club about the role of the Club in contributing a senior friendly community. Part of the meeting was devoted to efforts the community must make to insure the Club will move into its 2nd century of providing a Place for Everyone. HPNC is "Steeped in Tradition, Committed to the Future."

Lead story for Hyde Park OWL Newsletter for May, 2008:
Meeting Time: Saturday, May 3, 2008, 12:30 – 3:00 [NOTE CHANGE OF TIME!]
Meeting Place: Hyde Park Neighborhood Club, 5480 Kenwood Ave, Chicago [NOTE CHANGE OF PLACE]
Many are working to revitalize our community; OWL members are particularly interested in creating and sustaining a senior-friendly community. On Saturday, May 3, we have two excellent opportunities to share our visions.
On Saturday morning from 9-12 we are invited to meet at Kenwood Academy to consider what would be the best visions for the development of 53rd Street.
On Saturday afternoon we will meet at the Hyde Park Neighborhood Club to consider the question: What is the role of the HPNC in a senior-friendly community? As many of our members realize, several OWL members are actively involved in the seniors programs at the Neighborhood Club, as participants in varied programs and as members of the Senior Advisory Committee. The Neighborhood Club is beginning a Century celebration, and undergoing a strategic planning process. The Club is very interested in how community members envision the future.
We hope that many will come from Kenwood Academy to the Neighborhood Club; beginning at 12:30 we will offer refreshments and tours of the Neighborhood Club facility. At 1, we will have welcoming messages from Judy Roothaan, on behalf of OWL Hyde Park, and Karen Freeman, President of the Board of HPNC. Around 1:15, we will break into small discussion groups to consider key questions about how we envision the role of the HPNC in sustaining a senior-friendly community; after group discussion we will come together and share our perspectives – and vote on the priorities listed by each group. We will complete our session by considering How shall we make the dream come alive?
Please invite your friends to join us for this very special event! We expect members and friend of OWL, activists and Board members from the HPNC, and members of the University of Chicago Service Club. We welcome all who are concerned about working to create a community in which we nourish those of all ages.
If you would like transportation from Kenwood Academy to HPNC, please contact Ken Schug, Co-Chair of Hyde Park OWL (kschug@msn.com, or 312-218-3438.

Centennial Kickoff.
Read more about the Club and some of its programs and new directions in hydepark.org pages After School, News from Co-laborers in the Community, Community Resources, Helpline,
Good Neighbor opportunities, and Community Nonprofits. The club is geared to kids and youth, senior citizens, and adults seeking recreation, knowledge, skills, and fellowship.

The Club is located at 5480 S. Kenwood, 773 643-4062, website www.hpnclub.org (refurbished). There you will find a full schedule and description of programs. also ask them to put you on the easy-to-use update listserve. Programs vary from yoga and Jazzercize to sports, movies on Friday, sessions with counselors and experts and informationals and discussions. There is much for every age group and full daycare for semi-independent older adults.

The Club regrets it had to eliminate the seniors drop off daycare program, which served about 28 persons (40 sme families) with a staff of 7. The Club realizes the problems this has created for some including distances traveled and to the suite of community services. It has worked to relocate the affected families in openings in other facilities. Some have expressed great disappointment for a loss of service to both the families and the neighborood, where over-60 is the fastest growing sector (as it is in the country). These writers point out that the program was in large part funded and that families would be willing to pay more. Continuing to gather information and explore funding sources, the board will work to have the best possible suite of senior programs and care and continue to be "A place for everyone."

 

In late spring a 2007 new sprung wood floor, eagerly awaited by users, was installed in the gym. Completion was celebrated with a 3 on 3 basketball tournament September 8 named for Sen. Raoul. The new gym was helped by state grants secured by State Rep. Barbara Flynn Currie and State Sen. Kwame Raoul and the Illinois Dept. of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.

Golden Diners, Monday-Friday at 11:30, is one of many programs the Club has for seniors 60 and over. (Ask about movies on Fridays, Golden Troubadours, computer classes.. ) $1.50 is the regular fee.

Tot Lot is back but has no climbing equipment because the old broke down.

Let HPNC host your birthday party.

 

Press release of January 23, 2008: Hyde Park Neighborhood Club Nears 100th Year, Launches Strategic Planning Phase

Next year, the Hyde Park Neighborhood Club turns 100! To prepare for the next hundred years of community service, the Club is launching a strategic planning phase with the Executive Service Corps of Chicago (ESC). For the next six months, this exciting planning process will bring the Club's staff and Board of Directors, volunteers, neighborhood stakeholders, donors and community leaders together to develop a forward-thinking, fiscally sound vision for growth, change, and outreach.

The Club currently faces many challenges: shrinking financial support from the public and private sectors, infrastructure complaints, and declining enrollment. Due to these challenges, the Club's leadership voted unanimously to suspend its Adult day Center Program (ADC), effective February 29, 2008. As part of our decision-making process, we conducted extensive research into alternative facilities, considered multiple budget scenarios, and initiated cuts in other areas. This decision was not made in haste and not without regret; however, it was necessary in order to sustain the other essential programs and services that the Club provides. We are committed to making this transition as easy as possible for our ADC clients s well as helping our displaced staff find other employment.

"The Club's entire staff and Board are unified in our mission to secure a stable financial nd programmatic future," said Board President Karen Freeman. "With such a vibrant and diverse community to draw from, I can't wait to see what ideas are generated with the strategic planning." Under the guidance of the ESC, strategic planning will begin in February and last approximately six months.

The Hyde Park Neighborhood club offers an array of programs and services for audiences of all types. These include Before and After school programs for children ages kindergarten through 15 and independent seniors classes and services, including the Golden Diners lunch. The Club also provides enrichment classes and programs such as Little Kickers soccer, Tot Lot, Hyde Park School of Ballet, Southside Chess Tournaments, One-on-One Basketball, Fencing, Tae Kwon Do, Karate, Akido, Yoga, and many others. The Club's website offers an updated schedule.

MORE. For moe information on the Hyde Park Neighborhood Club, contact Karen Freeman at 773 643-4062 x27 or www.hpnclub.org.

ABOUT. The Hyde Park Neighborhood Club remains committed to its mission to enhance the quality of life for neighborhood residents from toddlers to seniors by providing recreational, extra-curricular, and special needs programming and access to versatile spaces for gatherings within a true community center. As a community partner, the Club promotes life-long learning, fitness of mind and body, and family support across our richly diverse neighborhood.

 

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Specials and programs (contact the website or Club, get on their listserve)

 

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Akido. Akida- Hyde Park Dojo, led by David Levine, Aiki Extensions. Mondays 7:30-9:15 pm. $40 a month, $12 a session. http:www.aiki-extensions.org/.

Tot Lot is back- all day M, Tu, Th, F. Info at the club.

Michelle Gaza holds a yoga class at HPNC: For class schedule & more information:
www.highervibration.org. (312) 342 4038. Starting June 23, 2008: Ashtanga yoga for beginners, Sats. at 10:45. Charge.

Join the Men's club Thursday mornings 8-10- for 55 and over.

Biddy ball is in progress now;

Basketball Schedule:

Mon. 6-10 ages 35 and older
Tues. 6-8 ages 18+
Wed. 6-8 ages 11-14; after 8 18+
Thurs. 6-8 18+
Fri. 6-8:30 18+

Remember that Golden Diners is every M-F, 11:30-12:30, with plenty of activities before and after. $1.50 for over 75. $2.80 to those over.

Chess Club for kids 8-14 is taught by an International Master Sundays 3-5 (except Mem. Weekend). This involves real challenge and homework. Festival Instit coming June 9- visit in Cultural Calendar.

Tot Lot is open again 9-noon M. Tu, Th- $2 a day. Wednesdays Lil Kickers 9-12?


Enrichment general programs

Adults and Seniors

Social Worker Office Hours- First and Third Thursdays 1-6 pm. Register for appointment with Jessica Blake.

Adult Daycare. Useful if senior is unable to provide structure for daily activities, is isolated, cannot be safely left alone alone, or the caregiver lives away or needs breaks. Program includes recreation and socialization- exercise, tai chi, therapeutic movement, storytelling, singing, active games, gardening, current events, crafts, pet therapy, intergenerational activities, reminiscence, field trips, holiday, birthday, caregiver/client events.

Open Basketball daily Monday 7 35_, Tuesday-Friday 7 18+ Rentals available

Children

Youth Basketball


Autumn 2007 programs. To access programs: http://editor.ne16.com/he/vo.asp?FileID=112989&Memberid=163008444&ListName =hydepark&MailID=3120420

Winter Youth Classes: (Dance $144 for 12 weeks) No classes weeks of December 24 and January 31. Scholarships available--no one excluded for inability to pay.

Dance with HP School of Ballet- ages 8-11, Tuesdays 4:30-5:30. 12-week session st. Dec. 4

Tap-Wednesdays ages 5-7 4 pm, ages 8-11 4:45 pm, ages 12+ 5:45 pm. 12-week from Dec. 6

Hip Hop and Tumbling- Thursdays, ages5-7 4-5 pm, ages 8-11 5-6 pm.

Soccer with Lil' Kickers- Wednesdays ages 18 mo to 9 years 8 am-5 pm. 13 week session starts November 28.

Basketball Skills- One on One. Tuesdays ages 5-7 4-5 pm, ages 8-13 5-6 pm. 12 we session starts December 4. $144 for 12 weeks.

Chess Tournaments- 1st sunday of the month starting 9 am, ages 5-12. Register at www.chessteachers.org.

Holiday Day Camp for ages 6-15, 7 am-6 pm. December 26, 27, 28, January 2, 3, 4. $50 er day. Private scholarships available.

December 31, 5-12 pm. Akida and family New Years Eve party, tied into Neighbors' Eve. Clowns, bands, food, dancers, games. The Kids Ball drops at 7 pm, main ball at midnight.

 

 

GREAT CLASSES FOR KIDS Details of these categories follow or can be accessed directly on the Club's site.

Basketball, sports media, dance, soccer and more.

AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMMING


K-6th Grades

Teens - 7th & 8th Grades

Details:

7th and 8th grade After School Program: Life Skills, Homework Assistance, Presentation Skills, Spoken Word and Fine art, Basketball and Sports. Daily bus pickup at Canter middle School. Reg.with Abby Hymen, 773 643-4062.

VISIT THE CLUB WEB SITE FOR MORE INFO ON BASKETBALL, DANCE, CHESS AND SOCCER

SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE FOR FAMILIES IN NEED


BASKETBALL SKILLS & TAKEOVER SPORTS MEDIA with STEPHEN BARDO

Ages 8-12

$200 for 10 weeks

TUESDAYS for 10 Weeks - SEPTEMBER 11 through NOVEMBER 13

This 2-hour class is a unique opportunity for young people interested in BASKETBALL and SPORTS MEDIA to learn from a real PRO.

HOUR 1 - 4PM to 5PM

Stephen Bardo played for the University of Illinois on the 1989 Final Four Team and in the NBA. He currently works as a color commentator for ESPN. In conjunction with Broadcast Media students from Colombia College, Bardo will help the kids to learn the basics of story-telling, personal presentation, on and off camera work, and the media. Most importantly, students will learn the skills necessary to succeed in life.

HOUR 2 - 5PM to 6PM

Participants practice their basketball skills with ONE ON ONE BASKETBALL.

BASKETBALL SKILLS with ONE ON ONE BASKETBALL

Ages 5-7 4PM to 5PM TUESDAY AND THURSDAY

Ages 8-12 5PM to 6PM THURSDAY

Ages 13-15 6PM to 7PM TUESDAY AND THURSDAY

TRAINING STARTS SEPTEMBER 11, 2007

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DANCE with the Hyde Park School of Ballet Extension

TUESDAY - INTRO TO CHOREOGRAPHY

Ages 8-11 4:30-5:30

WEDNESDAY - TAP

ages 5-7 years 4:00-4:45

ages 8-12 years 5:00-5:45

ages 13+ 6:00-6:45

THURSDAY - HIP HOP & TUMBLING

ages 5-7 4:00-5:00

ages 8-12 5:00-6:00

CLASSES START THE WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 17, 2007

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SOCCER (ChitownFutbol)

LIL KICKERS SOCCER

WEDNESDAYS AT THE CLUB

ChitownFutbol/Lil' Kickers. Soccer. Contact Hyde Park Neighborhood Club/ website. 773 643-4062. http://www.chitownfutbol.com/o1_home/master_page.html. http://www.chitownfutbol.com/little_kickers/hyd_fall_sch.pdf. Main center at 2343 S. Throop (Chitown Futbol) Lots of classes. 18 months to 9 years. 877 545-5457.
Lil' Kickers can be a child's first step toward life-long love of athletics and is based on child development theory. Builds physical, social skills and self esteem. Includes year-round at the Neighborhood Club and summer in Nichols Park.
http://www.chitownfutbol.com.

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SUNDAY AFTERNOON CHESS

SUNDAYS from 3:00 PM TO 5:00 PM

AGES 5-14

REGISTRATION FORM

10 Classes for $150 Starting Sunday September 30

The Club offers Master Chess Instruction for experienced beginners and intermediate players ages 5 to 14 on Sunday afternoons.
The class will be taught by professional chess instructor Jan Van de Mortel. Jan is an International Master (one step below Grandmaster) and is currently ranked 5th in Illinois and about 80th in the United States. Jan was formerly a Junior Champion of the Netherlands.
The course provides weekly 2-hour classes During the class, participants will receive direct teaching from Jan, work on chess exercises and play instructional games. The class will maintain a maximum student to teacher ratio of 12:1. Participants will also receive homework assignments for study out of class. This course is specifically designed for serious players interested in improving their game and understanding of chess.



AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMMING

Putting children in daily contact with caring adult counselors (10:1) who monitor physical and emotional well-being. Learning and having fun through multiple approaches.

We've got great things going in both our school age (k-6th grades) and teen (7th & 8th grades) programs. Includes daily homework, art classes with Beverly Art Center, fun, gym time.

Programs run from 2:30 PM until 6:00 PM must be picked up).

Detailed information and registration forms are available on the web.

If you have any questions, call Peter Meltzer Cassel at 773 643-4062.

SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE


SHORT-TERM SUMMER CAMPS

Summer Harvest Camp - Finished Grades K to 5th

9AM to 1PM Monday to Friday August 27 to 31


End of summer day camp for five days where our children learn to plant, harvest, and cook fresh vegetables from the Neighborhood Club Garden.


The Camp is facilitated by Common Threads , an organization that educates children on the importance of nutrition, physical well-being and to instill an appreciation our world's diversity through the food and art of different cultures.


5-four hour sessions for only $250 - After Care Available.

Registration forms available on the Club's web site.


For more information, call Peter Meltzer Cassel - 773 643-4062

Hyde Park Neighborhood Club
5480 S Kenwood Ave, Chicago, IL 60615 773 643-4062 fax 773 643-4262
www.hpnclub.org


Neighborhood Club, community focus on future Club directions at HPKCC forum October 3

By Gary Ossewaarde, HPKCC Vice President

On October 3 residents met at an open forum held at the Club by Hyde Park-Kenwood Community Conference. The subject was gathering of ideas for the future directions for the Club. There was a strong sense that the Club is ready to move not only to an upgrading of current and adoption of new programs, but to fundraising and gearing up to become a real activity center for the people of Hyde Park, Kenwood and surrounding neighborhoods.

The draw of current programs varies according to kind of program and the target age group, but there is enough draw from surrounding neighborhoods and zip codes that the club can only "in great part" serves Hyde Park and Kenwood and, to a somewhat lesser extent, Woodlawn. The Club has its own suite of staffed programs, several partners doing programs in the Club, many one-time activities and meetings, and open-space including in its gym with a new spring-wood gym floor. One growing focus is health, social, and lifestyle help and information. Another is intergenerational mentoring.

The paid and volunteer staff and large, dedicated board were highly praised by the 30 or so present, as was the support of state and local officials and the many donors whose support is greatly appreciated.

The audience felt main target audiences--children, seniors, and teens--should be served even more by programs and (as appropriate) opportunities to just drop in and use resources. Attendees though there should also be more ways to serve families so that the club is truly a "Center". Attendees said the Club has an opportunity to serve, for example teens and pre teens who are often adrift or even getting into trouble between the time school lets our and their parents get home from work. Both teens and seniors are now a focus of expanding programs at the club. Senior programs were both focused and broadened by their Senior Advisory Council thanks to recent community and stakeholder brainstorming funded in large part by a grant from the Retirement Research Foundation.

The audience, which included parents, staff, and social workers, noted barriers to attracting both seniors and teens. These range from competition for time to less expensive alternatives, special interests of teens and their not wanting to be in a "kids' place" to various transportation problems (only so many vans are feasible), reasons why seniors just staying at home, even community perceptions. Wonderful programs often have to be dropped for want of attendance despite ramped-up publicity. There are also structural problems ranging from the layout, look and apparently sound-carrying materials of the building to need for intensive structure and staff for many of the programs, some of them targeted to ages that tend to resist structure or limits on independence. Attendees also recalled several programs, including social service and informational, that the Club at one time had but that were dropped for lack of funding, available staff, interest, or even, in the case of evening teen events, neighbor complaints. Maybe some could be creatively reintroduced.

Attendees at the end of the meeting pasted dots on poster boards with the recorded comments and ideas, highlighting what they considered the most promising ideas or areas of focus. A big one was intergenerational activities and mentoring-- seniors and other adults with teens and children and teens with children. This is a direction in which the Club is already moving. Another was the concept of the Club as a Center for people and families of every age and as many interest groups as possible, especially those for whom alternatives are limited.

Alderman Hairston was among numerous persons strongly encouraging the Club to think "center," find and build up a focus activity the Club is "known for" and use that to undertake fund raising for major facility expansion.

Meanwhile, approaching its centennial (founded 1909), the Hyde Park Neighborhood Club is building its service and presence. Browse its user-friendly website http://www.hpnclub.org or call 773 643-4062. Peter Cassel is executive director, program managers include Jessica Blake (senior program), Holly Leiker, and Abby Hyman (intergenerational). Perhaps if you are 55 or older you would like to volunteer to mentor--and learn from--a teen aged 12-14. This program seeks 25 adult participants in order to start up. The teens are eager and waiting. Call Jessica Blake to volunteer.


Report on an intergenerational initiative

Mixed-age group like a fountain of youth. Hyde Park Herald, October 10l 2007. By Georgia Geis

Longtime Hyde Park resident Rosalie Fruchter worked for Chicago Public Schools just shy of 40 years, 20 of which were spent at Ray Elementary School, 5631 S. Kimbark Ave. After four decades, Fruchter's enthusiasm for working with young people has not diminished, and she now plans to become a mentor for a teen through the soon-to-be-launched HydePark Neighborhood Club (HPNC) intergenerational mentoring program.

"Being with young kids keeps you young," said Fruchter. "They are fun." Jessica Blake, program manager for senior services at HPNC, said they plan unveiling a program which would match up teens between the ages of 12 and 14 with Hyde Parkers 55 years or older. "The Senior Advisory Council was voicing pleas for more intergenerational programs," said Blake.

Blake said she hopes to find more adults who wish to participate in the program. "We want them to build a relationship and learn from one another," said Blake. Blake pointed to recent studies that found positive results after pairing young people with older counterparts. Intergenerational activities have been found to offset depression in both groups.

One Chicago-based program the has been facilitating such mixed-age activities is Little Brother[s] Friends to the Elderly. The non-profit organization is working with schools to get children ages fie to 17 in contact with people 70 years and older. One program gives kindergartners who just learned to count to 100 the opportunity to meet centenarians to share and compare life experiences.

Christine Bertrand, intergenerational coordinator. said that many young people don't have any contact with older adults. "It is a meaningful experience for to the sides," said Bertrand.

The intergenerational program for the club is still being shaped and a start date has not been determined. The initial goal for adult mentors is 25 participants. Abby Hymen, teen coordinator at HPNC, said the teens are excited about working with older adults. "The majority of kids talked about making this work," said Hymen. "I'm really excited about getting this started." Hymen said the parents she spoke with also were supportive of the new venture. The only concern that was raised was a matter of time commitment, she said.

Fruchter said she is looking forward to building a relationship. "Working with young people can make such a difference, and that feels good," said Fruchter.

For more information about the program, call Jessica Blake at 773 643-4062.

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