Friend,

As we welcome a new year, I am filled with gratitude and optimism for what lies ahead for Family Focus. January invites us to reflect on where we’ve been, and to recommit ourselves to the children and families who place their trust in us every day. Because of the dedication of our team, the partnership of our collaborators, and the generosity of our supporters, we begin this year with strong momentum and an unwavering belief in the power of our mission.

This January also holds special meaning for me personally, as it marks ten years since I arrived in Chicago from Detroit to serve the children and families at the heart of Family Focus’s mission. Over the past decade, I have witnessed extraordinary resilience, growth, and care across our organization and throughout the communities we serve. I have seen Chicago families persevere through uncertainty; children flourish in safe and nurturing environments, and our teams show up each day with compassion, expertise, and heart. Serving alongside this community has been one of the greatest honors of my professional life, and I am deeply grateful for the shared commitment that continues to guide and inspire our work.

We also begin our strategic planning process as a vital step in ensuring Family Focus remains strong, responsive, and impactful in an ever-changing world. Strategic planning allows us to thoroughly assess community needs, sharpen our priorities, and make thoughtful decisions about how we steward our resources. It is how we translate care and commitment into measurable outcomes, ensuring our programs continue to create meaningful and lasting impact for families today and for generations to come.

As we look ahead, I am energized by the possibilities before us and confident in what we can achieve together. With purpose, clarity, and courage, we will continue building a future where children and families are supported, empowered, and able to thrive.

With my deepest gratitude,

Thank You to our Holiday Giving Partners!

Our Holiday Giving Community partners helped deliver the gift of joy and connection to families across all of our centers. Through the generosity of local partners such as the Wayfarer Theatre in Highland Park, which hosted a month-long fundraiser in support of Family Focus Highland Park, families were also welcomed to a special screening of the animated film David. The experience created a meaningful opportunity for families to gather, connect, and enjoy time together.

Families also experienced the magic of the season at Drury Lane Theatre, where they attended The Nutcracker and shared an evening filled with wonder, warmth, and togetherness.

“These moments matter,” said Sara Rubino, Sales Director at Drury Lane Theatre and Events. “I cannot wait to continue providing these experiences for Family Focus families, especially during special times of the year.”

Opportunities like these offer families more than entertainment. They provide opportunities for togetherness and connection while building joyful memories that carry warmth long after the season has changed.

Building Leadership From Within

Investing in leadership remained a priority this year with the launch of the second cohort of our Leadership Lab, an internal professional development fellowship designed to support and grow our middle managers.

Building on the success of our inaugural cohort, the expanded program now spans eight months, allowing for deeper reflection, skill building, and leadership development. Middle managers carry significant responsibility across people, programs, and systems. Supporting their growth is not simply professional development, it is a strategic investment in organizational strength and sustainability.

With generous support from Beth Sonnenschein and in partnership with Elle Davis and The Ellevate Group, the FY2026 cohort is grounded in leadership development rooted in equity, collaboration, and systems level thinking. This work reflects our commitment to growing leaders who can steward our mission with clarity, confidence, and care.

“Middle managers are the backbone of organizations. When they are not intentionally developed, burnout and turnover follow. When they are supported, they help lead organizations into their next phase of growth.”

Elle Davis, Founder of The Ellevate Group

Public Policy Update:

Advancing Protections for Children and Families

During the most recent Illinois legislative veto session in October 2025, we continued advancing key policy priorities that strengthen protections and expand opportunities for children and families across the state.

We were invited by the Latino Policy Forum to testify before the Illinois General Assembly, where we advocated for the creation of an Out of School Time Council. This proposed council would improve coordination, sustainability, and investment in afterschool and summer programming statewide. While the measure did not pass during the veto session, it remains a core priority for us, and we will continue advancing this effort during the Spring Legislative Session.

We also helped secure an important policy win that strengthens protections for children and families served by child care centers across Illinois. This new law restricts child care staff from disclosing a child’s actual or perceived immigration status, as well as sensitive personal information such as birth dates, family background, or ethnicity, unless disclosure is otherwise required by law.

In addition, the policy requires parental notification and consent before a child’s information is shared with law enforcement, updates emergency contact procedures, and establishes clear protocols for child care programs when families face immigration enforcement. These protections are especially critical for early childhood programs like our child care centers in South Shore and Hyde Park, where trust, safety, and stability are foundational to children’s learning and development.

Together, these policy advances help ensure families feel safe enrolling in and attending child care programs, reinforcing our belief that early childhood spaces should be places of care, dignity, and protection for all families.

Two New Play Spaces to Explore and Grow

We are thrilled to unveil two new play spaces for our South Shore Playground. Both thoughtfully designed spaces are intended to support learning, movement, and play for children ages 0-2 and 3-5. Built with safety and holistic child development in mind, the playground offers age appropriate structures and open areas that encourage exploration and active play.

Designed to support infants, toddlers, and preschoolers, our new space helps children build motor skills, confidence, and social connections while enjoying time outdoors. More than a play area, the playground extends the nurturing environment families experience every day at Family Focus.

Our new developmentally rich playground was made possible by the generous support of Start Early Head Start, Start Early Early Head Start, and the City of Chicago Department of Family and Support Services EHS and CCP.

We are grateful for these partnerships and look forward to seeing children learn, grow, and thrive in this new space.

Celebrating 25 Years of Leadership and Service:

We are proud to celebrate Sherneron T. Hilliard’s 25 years of service to Family Focus and congratulate her on being named a 2026 Chicago Defender Women of Excellence Award recipient!

This honor recognizes a career defined by visionary leadership, deep civic engagement, and commitment to equity.

As Senior Vice President of Programs and Impact, Sherneron oversees culturally responsive early childhood education, youth development, and family support programs that reach nearly 20,000 children and families each year across 11 service areas in Chicago and Northeast Illinois. Her leadership has strengthened families, and expanded pathways to socio-economic mobility in communities including Englewood, North Lawndale, South Shore, Cicero, and Belmont Cragin.

Beyond her executive role, Sherneron is a certified Life Coach and a dedicated advocate through professional associations and board service, mentoring emerging leaders and advancing mental health access and community revitalization.

For 25 years, Sherneron has led with grace, purpose, and impact, and we are grateful for her extraordinary service and thrilled to celebrate this well-deserved recognition.

Partner Spotlight: Highland Park Community Foundation

We are proud to recognize the Highland Park Community Foundation (HPCF) for its longtime support of our Highland Park Center. Since its establishment in 1992 at the request of the City of Highland Park, HPCF has served as the philanthropic heart of the community, addressing unmet needs and expanding opportunities for Highland Park and Highwood residents through annual grants to nonprofit organizations providing educational, human service, and cultural programs.

Through the Foundation’s partnership, Highland Park and Highwood families have access to our trusted home visiting and doula services, which offer guidance, education, and compassionate support during pregnancy and the early years of parenting. In addition, HPCF’s support makes it possible for families to participate in safe, enriching outings that reduce isolation, strengthen connections, and create lasting family memories. These shared experiences foster belonging and joy while helping parents build supportive relationships with one another.

Following the tragic July 4th shooting, our Highland Park Center received critical support through the HPCF 4th of July Recovery Fund, which has provided multiple grants in the years since the event. These funds have enabled us to respond to community trauma with care and intention, supporting healing and resilience for families and staff alike. Recovery Fund grants have supported healing yoga classes, self-care events for parents affected by the shooting, calming family field trips including visits to the Shedd Aquarium and local farms, and professional development for staff focused on trauma-informed practice. Additionally, we have ongoing Horticulture Therapy classes for parents and children at the Chicago Botanic Garden and the purchase of therapeutic items, such as bilingual books, weighted blankets, soft toys, and sensory materials, are helping young children safely express and process their emotions.

Together, we are ensuring that Highland Park families feel supported, connected, and empowered from the very beginning – even in the face of profound loss and hardship. We are deeply grateful to the Highland Park Community Foundation for its enduring commitment to nurturing strong families and a caring, resilient community.

For more information about the Highland Park Community Foundation, visit www.hpcfil.org.

Hyde Park and South Shore Sensory Spaces

Coming Soon!

Renderings by CannonDesign

We are thrilled to announce the opening of two new sensory spaces at our Hyde Park and South Shore preschool centers – joyful, calming environments designed to support the healthy development of the children we serve.

These spaces were made possible through a remarkable legacy gift from Judith S. Block, a devoted board member for more than 50 years, whose commitment to children and families continues to shape our future. Judy’s generosity ensures that generations of children will have safe, calming spaces to learn, develop and grow.

Family Focus extends a very special thank you to Anne Gibson and CannonDesign for their partnership and support.

Learn more about Legacy Giving

A planned gift to Family Focus is a meaningful way to support our mission beyond your lifetime. Your legacy will help ensure the communities we serve continue to receive the support, education, and resources they need to build social capital and economic growth, ultimately changing not only the lives of their families but positively impacting the communities within which they live.

Save the Date: 2026 Dream Builders Dinner

Save the date! We hope you’ll join us for the 2026 Dream Builders Dinner, a magical celebration of children, families and changemakers.

🗓️ Thursday, May 7, 2026

🕠 5:30 – 6:30 Reception, 6:30 – 8:30 Dinner and Program

📍 Bridgeport Art Center – Skyline Loft, 1200 W 35th St, Chicago, IL 60609

We are excited to announce a new venue for our annual dinner, the Bridgeport Art Center – Skyline Loft. Housed in a historic 1911 industrial space, the venue offers a contemporary, spacious, and vibrant setting that allows us to welcome more guests and create an even more meaningful experience.

The 2026 theme, Magic in Motion, celebrates changemakers who move our mission forward and the collective power of community to build brighter futures for children and families.

Tickets and sponsorships are available now - visit our website to learn more.