Community Voice: Takeaways from My Time Serving as an Americorps Member During a Pandemic
Illustration by Estefany Figueroa
By Estefany Figueroa
The Cicero Community Collaborative (CCC) serves a predominantly Latinx community living in Cicero, Illinois. When the stay at home order was first implemented, the CCC helped meet basic needs and provide cash assistance to Cicero families. Here are some of the lessons that I took away as an Americorps Member serving with the CCC during the pandemic.
RESPONDING TO MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS
Yesenia Garcia, a Cicero resident, says the hardest part of the pandemic was not the loss of her job, but the loss of her father, who died due to COVID-19. “We weren't working and the children were here at home. The [lack of] work affected everyone, but the hardest thing was losing my dad,” she said over the phone.
The CCC holds space for conversation with their parent ambassadors and staff regarding self care and mental health to make sure people are in a good place. Parent ambassadors are parents from Cicero who join a committee and help connect residents to resources. The initial goal of the parent ambassador program was to enable parents to become leaders in their community, whether that means being active in their child's school, informing and educating others of the importance of early head start or ensuring community members are aware of resources related to immigration and mental health services.
The CCC uses various communication channels to connect local residents to mental health resources. Through the CCC listserv, for example, the CCC team sends out resources from organizations like Pillars Community Health, Family Service & Mental Health, YouthCrossroads, and Access Community Health. These organizations provide mental health services, workshops, and webinars for community members and agencies alike and share self care tips and additional resources on their social media platforms, which the CCC also makes note to share on their own platforms.
These organizations have had to create and host webinars specifically to deal with the unique effects of the pandemic. They have hosted lessons on how to deal with grief, learning about your locus of control and how to cope with sudden social changes.
To be added to the CCC listserv, contact cicero.collaborative@gmail.com.
ADDRESSING LANGUAGE NEEDS
Before COVID hit, the CCC had 7 community members trained through the LARC program of the Dupage Federation to provide interpretation and translation services for events. At the beginning of the pandemic, the CCC used their trained interpreters at COVID testing sites. These services are crucial at testing sites where important health information regarding COVID is being discussed. We must continue to invest in language access programs and ensure that up-to-date information about COVID is available in multiple languages.
MEETING THE NEEDS OF MOTHERS AND YOUNG CHILDREN
Photo courtesy of Linda Rios, All Our Kids Network Coordinator.
The Emergency COVID-19 Baby Formula and Diaper Bank, an initiative of the AOK/ CCC Early Childhood Committee, has provided 33,580 diapers and 146 cans of formula to Cicero families to meet a need that became apparent during the pandemic.
“This initiative was basically the collective impact of all the partners at the table coming together to fill a need that emerged in the community,” explained Linda Rios, All Our Kids Coordinator and the Co-Chair of the Early Childhood Committee (ECC).
Early childhood parent ambassadors helped deliver these items to families. There were a total of 4 teams and it was a no contact delivery, with the option to pick up. he team also provided additional supplies including shampoo, toothpaste, brushes, baby wipes, femine hygiene products, face masks and other necessities. Each package also promoted early childhood literacy with bilingual and Census books, and resource directories.
“The workforce that we are in is mainly essential workers, so those families that work in factories, in restaurants, to keep the economy going, they can’t really focus on their health and their family’s health,” Rios said.
There is a conversation happening within the ECC/AOK committee regarding the baby bank and diaper formula initiative to see if this is something that can continue beyond the pandemic.
To stay updated on this initiative and other AOK events follow the All Our Kids Network Facebook page or visit their website to learn more about their Collaborative.
WE MUST ADDRESS RACIAL VIOLENCE
Following the social uprisings of the summer, the CCC Welcoming Committee started a film series with the intention of creating a space to discuss anti-racism, anti-Blackness, colorism and internalized racism. The group showcases films that center non-Black Latinx and Latinx communities and discusses specific scenes with event attendants. “What better way [to have these discussions] than through a film series,” said Yadira Martinez, the CCC coordinator. “There are Black Latinos, so it’s not a ‘Them vs Us’ mindset, it’s an all inclusive thing that we are having.”
INDIVIDUAL CASH ASSISTANCE CAN ONLY GO SO FAR
As a result of the COVID-19 Response funds provided by the United Way of Metro Chicago Community and the Chicago Community Trust, the CCC was able to provide cash assistance in three rounds to about 229 families in Cicero. Each family was given $500 in cash, so that they may be able to pay for groceries, rent, medical bills and other expenses.
People like Carmen Garcia Lopez, a Cicero resident, benefited from these cash allotments.
"We didn’t receive a stimulus check like most people did,” Lopez said in an interview over the phone. “I tried to be well so that my kids would look at me well.”
“A lot of the community is made up of essential workers who put their lives in danger every day and provide for their family,” said Yadira Martinez. “We have families in Cicero that didn’t get a stimulus check, who also don’t get public benefits, so it is important for us to fill those cracks and help as many people as we can. “
These cash payments have helped families a lot, however, we need sustained investments for ALL of our community members to receive the financial assistance they need, regardless of immigration status. We must find ways to make this aid sustainable and accessible to those who need it most.
How have you adapted your services during the pandemic? Let us know by sending us an email at info@ciceroindependiente.com.
To find out more about the Cicero Community Collaborative and stay up to date on their work, get involved or volunteer, follow them on Facebook and Instagram at Cicero Community Collaborative or send them an email at cicero.collaborative@gmail.com.
Estefany Figueroa recently graduated as an Americorps Member and is currently serving on the board of Cicero Community Farm, an initiative whose goal is to provide the Cicero community with foundational, equitable, and culturally competent food access.
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