Little Village Immigrant Resource Center

Chicago, Illinois

Erie Neighborhood House (ENH), a 140-year old social service agency, has been committed to Chicago's immigrant communities. In 2006, ENH opened a new center in the "Little Village" neighborhood, which is a port of entry for Latino immigrants and the capital of the Mexican Midwest. The new center has been named the Little Village Immigrant Resource Center (LVIRC) focusing on adult education (English as a second language, financial literacy, leadership training and technology), social services (legal aid, citizenship support and social work) and community organizing (housing resource center, violence prevention and partnership for college access and success).

The project is an adaptive reuse of an existing 2-story brick building, demolition of an adjacent residential site for an exterior garden/community space and future expansion space, and rezoning and replanning of street parking around the site.