Neighborhoods are where we live meaningful lives. When people work together and support each other in community, the world becomes a better place. The Community House Network formed out of the desire to build healthy caring communities.
The CHN is a plan to strengthen healthy connections and relations within communities through the creation of communal spaces. The use of these communal spaces will be co-determined by those community members designated as leaders and mentors and will be based on enhancing the individual and collective well-being of all participants. This project comes out of the desire to transform neighborhoods struggling with job, financial and other insecurities. The use of the communal spaces will have the focus of empowering individuals. First and foremost, this program is designed to help individual members of a community discover their abilities and strengths, and then to find avenues to share those abilities in the world.
The CHN is a plan to strengthen healthy connections and relations within communities through the creation of communal spaces. The use of these communal spaces will be co-determined by those community members designated as leaders and mentors and will be based on enhancing the individual and collective well-being of all participants. This project comes out of the desire to transform neighborhoods struggling with job, financial and other insecurities. The use of the communal spaces will have the focus of empowering individuals. First and foremost, this program is designed to help individual members of a community discover their abilities and strengths, and then to find avenues to share those abilities in the world.
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From owning a home, to living in community...
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Foundational Principles |
To Build Healthy Communities the CHN is focused on the growth and development of all community members. It’s primary four areas of focus are:
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The Community House Network operates out of the principle of self-organization. Community organizing is an art. It is as complex and nuanced as the communities within which it serves. The initial phase of the Community House Network has been to focus on the youth in the neighborhood of 700-800 W. Thrush, Peoria IL 61604. The emerging phase of the Community House Network brings together the adult and youth through apprenticeship opportunities, as well as a focus on the adult population entrepreneurialism, self-employment and more personal growth and self-development.
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Serving the Community
The Community House Network is dedicated to serving the local community.
More About the Community Spaces
THE CENTER FOR CREATIVE LEARNING
800 W. Thrush Avenue is dedicated to creative learning activities for children and adults. It has hosted The Art Garage since 2018 and has hosted adult personal development opportunities from 12 step meetings to online courses designed to help individuals more deeply understand themselves and their place in the world.
Homeschool support is available for students who are non-traditional learners. This curriculum utilizes embodied, arts-based approaches to make learning fun. If your child has been diagnosed with ADHD, anxiety or aspergers, this curriculum may be for you. Please contact us for more information.
Homeschool support is available for students who are non-traditional learners. This curriculum utilizes embodied, arts-based approaches to make learning fun. If your child has been diagnosed with ADHD, anxiety or aspergers, this curriculum may be for you. Please contact us for more information.
THE SHOP CO-OP & STAGE
This space is an approximately 600 sq foot garage with two commercial bays. It is designated for apprenticeship activities with youth in practical and high demand skill sets in auto mechanics, carpentry and plumbing. The garage space is open to members of the community for use in the areas of the trades.
The Shop Co-Op hosts the apprenticeship of youth and mentoring program.
This space has become an extension of the Art Garage as a place for self expression through the arts. In 2023 we held our first performance on the stage, and there is hope that this conversion will further invite a larger group of youth to participate in community.
The Shop Co-Op hosts the apprenticeship of youth and mentoring program.
This space has become an extension of the Art Garage as a place for self expression through the arts. In 2023 we held our first performance on the stage, and there is hope that this conversion will further invite a larger group of youth to participate in community.
THE COMMUNITY HOUSE
The Community House is located at 2223 Sheridan Rd and hosts community conversations and organizational meeting for the rest of the community house network. Meetings and scheduled events are listed on our Events Page.
