Jane Addams, a tasty bit of history, and our newest member, JARC

Try throwing a stone in this town without hitting Jane Addams’s name. It cannot be done.

But also, don’t throw stones.

Particularly not at the name of a woman whose philosophical, social, and public works projects are integral components in Chicago’s complex history as a hub of progressive movements. The first American woman awarded a Nobel Peace Prize, Addams was a champion of economic and community development in low-income and marginalized neighborhoods. The opening of Hull House in Chicago’s near west side in 1889 brought together diverse immigrant populations to create safe community centers and catalyze advocacy for immigrants’ rights, child labor laws, and women’s suffrage. Jane Addams’s name is intrinsically linked with what we now call social welfare, and the Chicago institutions bearing it continue, in her tradition, the critical work of strengthening communities from within.

Included among them is the Jane Addams Resource Corporation, a recent addition to the growing roster of Zealous Good members.

About JARC:

The Jane Addams Resource Corporation builds healthy communities through workforce, economic, and human development. It is rooted in the North Center, Lakeview, Lincoln Square, and Uptown neighborhoods of Chicago and serves the Chicagoland area through a strategic mix of industrial retention, training, and educational initiatives.

Our Mission

• The Jane Addams Resource Corporation promotes strong communities, businesses and households to ensure that people who work do not live in poverty.
• JARC provides high quality skills training and support services to help lower-income and unemployed workers achieve self-sufficiency.
• JARC provides economic and workforce development services to businesses to improve their competitiveness.