AfterCare hosted its first Convivio for 26 of Mercy Home’s former residents and their families!

Convivio (which means “to live together; coexist”) was organized by AfterCare as a way to provide Latino families with the opportunity to come together and socialize in culturally safe and familiar context.

Coworkers also hosted five Latino community organizations from throughout Chicago—Yo Soy Ella, Catholic Charities, Instituto, and S.O.A.R.—as a means to help AfterCare members and their families learn about strengths and resources in their communities and in their dominant language.

AfterCare held a potluck style meal for the event and a Mercy Home youth cooked a delicious pozole and guacamole. Members had time to gather information from representatives of organizations that they were interested in as well as socialize with other Latino families.

The event was a hit and AfterCare hopes to make Convivio a yearly tradition in AfterCare!

Congratulations to our coworkers for creating a safe space for former youth and their families to learn from each other, connect with community resources, and heal together.