Community Meals Series: Breaking Bread & Building Community

As we enter the holiday season, the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago strives to foster moments of togetherness, connection, and community building. We reflect on shared ideas and goals while looking forward to new aspirations and brighter futures. 

Since November of 2023, the Y and Garfield Park organizations and nonprofits, as well as community partners in the greater Chicago-area, have participated in resident-led Community Meals — a series of free meals where residents and organizations come together to share ideas, resources, and plans for community growth in Garfield Park. Saturday, November 2, 2024, marked the one-year anniversary of this Community Meals series. 

These meals, hosted at The Hatchery, create an opportunity for community members to connect and share meaningful conversations about wholistic individual and community health and wellbeing, as well as what’s happening in Garfield Park, over a healthy meal. During past meals, we’ve discussed the Sankofa Wellness Village and the West Garfield Park YMCA, as well as the resources that will become available to the community upon its completion.

The YMCA of Metro Chicago has also shared information during these meals about our early learning programs and our workforce development programs. Other organizations have presented wellbeing topics selected by a committee such as community wealth building, art, gardening, and more! 

"It has been wonderful to see the community meals grow over the last year. We’ve seen real connections form as people come together to learn, connect with their neighbors, and — of course — enjoy some great meals from neighborhood businesses" said Denise Turner, Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives at the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago. 

Garfield Park residents, are you looking for a way to engage more deeply in your community? We invite you to join us at the next Community Meal on Saturday, December 7 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Community Meals are hosted at The Hatchery (135 N. Kedzie Ave., Chicago, IL 60612). We ask that you register in advance via this RSVP form.