Outreach & Advocacy
We are invested in God’s justice.
LaSalle has a long history of incubating, releasing, and participating in a wide range of community-based justice and compassion ministries and global development. Today we run weekly feeding programs like Breaking Bread and Senior Market, lead the Near North Unity Program (NNUP), are growing future volunteer teams, and work alongside trusted local and global partners to widen our impact. Read more about our core ministries, partner orgs, and missionary partners below.
LaSalle Core Ministries
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Breaking Bread
This LSC ministry is a drop-in feeding program for hungry and unhoused folks in our neighborhood. Each Wednesday evening we serve chef-cooked meals in Cornerstone Center and deliver plates to nearby seniors, providing 200+ meals a week. Our Wednesday volunteering needs are broken down into three 'shifts':
+ Meal Preparation
1:30-3:30 PM+ Meal & Room Preparation
3:30-5:00 PM+ Serving Dinner & Deliveries
5:00-8:30 PM+ All ages welcome; no training necessary
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Senior Market
This LSC ministry distributes free groceries and produce to seniors on the Near North Side. Twice a month, neighbors from the multiple senior buildings near LaSalle come to Leslie Hall to pick up grocery staples and share time and conversation together.
Volunteers needed on the second and fourth Tuesday mornings of each month! No training necessary.
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Near North Unity Program (NNUP)
NNUP seeks to promote community cohesion in the Near North side by developing programs that connect neighbors across race, class, and housing status. NNUP works across four priority areas – youth & family (offering positive opportunities for our youth), land use & development, community safety, and employment.
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Green Team
This team is forming to organize ways to support environmental stewardship, justice, and caring for our buildings and the Wild Mile River project.
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Racial Justice & Identity
We host groups for people of color to gather and enjoy one another, White People Work Groups that learn together how to see the world more faithfully, and a Racial Justice Advisory Group that guides our assessment, advocacy, and repair.
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Anti-Hunger Advocacy
We work with Bread for the World and local groups to press for policy changes that end hunger.
Partner Organizations
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Cornerstone Children's Learning Center (CCLC)
Cornerstone Children’s Learning Center offers a safe, caring, stimulating environment that fosters the physical, cognitive, social, emotional and spiritual growth of children, ages 2 - 6.
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Cabrini Green Legal Aid (CGLA)
CGLA provides high-impact, free legal services to low-income Chicagoans in four areas of law: family, housing, criminal records, and criminal defense. They integrate legal and social services to improve outcomes and extend impact beyond crisis support.
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New Moms
New Moms works to strengthen families by partnering with young moms as they progress towards housing stability, economic mobility, and family well-being.
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Bread for the World
Bread for the World is a non-partisan advocacy group that mobilizes churches, school campuses, and other organizations to come together and push for Congress to enact legislation to help end world hunger.
Missionary Partners
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Liana Zuñiga, YoungLife
Liana works with various campus groups to support students in their journey of building faith and community. She coordinates events and programs for YoungLife on the North Side of Chicago.
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Kimmy Graves, YoungLives
YoungLives is focused on building relationships with teen moms and dads by entering their world, modeling unconditional love, and encouraging them to become the men and women – fathers and mothers – God created them to be.
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Femi & Affy Adeleye, ICI
The Institute for Christian Impact (ICI) mentors and equips professionals to transform Africa through faith and action. Femi is the Director of ICI, and both Femi & Affy have been involved in student ministry in Africa for decades through the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students (IFES).
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Susy Masih, South Asian Friendship Center
SAFC seeks to reach neighbors across a diverse spectrum of backgrounds and beliefs – Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Jews, and Christians – to express the love of Jesus Christ. SAFC offers community space, ESL teaching, and worship services.