From the Executive Director | | |
Dear Friends,
Next week we will begin onboarding our newest Compañeras/os from Northeastern Illinois University, University of Illinois at Chicago, Loyola University, and Catholic Theological Union. And we will welcome back our team of four students from Cristo Rey Jesuit High School who will help us greet clients and provide administrative support. We look forward to having a full team once again!
Things are busy here. The first six months of this year, we saw 32% more clients than during the same timeframe last year. The number of client contacts, meaning the number of appointments, phone calls, translations, and accompaniments, increased from 1185 in 2024 to 2805, an increase of 137%!
While immigration issues are clearly top of mind, our clients are also facing decreased access to basic human needs – food, housing, utilities, and healthcare. We remain close to our Community Partners, finding ways to help one another, to stay informed and trained, and to share resources. We are in this together and are grateful for all the ways they accompany us as we walk with our neighbors.
We recently offered an immigration-specific Accompaniment Training to accredited reps through DePaul Asylum and Immigration Law Clinic in the College of Law at DePaul University on August 5th. With more than 17 years of experience of accompanying clients to USCIS, we are grateful for this opportunity to share our wisdom. It is important that those accompanying our neighbors are well-equipped to provide support before, during, and after the accompaniment. Our approach is holistic, and we hope contribute our learnings to the conversation.
We are very excited to share our NEW website, tallerdejose.org! Please take time to explore and come back regularly! We will be adding new information and features.
One last thing - we need your help to continue to meet the growing needs our clients. We have launched a monthly giving campaign. Please consider a monthly gift to help us continue to accompany our neighbors during these uncertain times. Your consistent commitment will help us reach our funding goals and provide stability for our work. And please invite others to join us in this effort!
Thank you for all you do to support Taller de José and our neighbors!
Blessings,
Elizabeth J. White
Executive Director
| | Community Partner Luncheon | | | | |
Every summer, Taller de José hosts a Community Partner Luncheon to show our gratitude and to connect across our network—sharing updates, learning from one another, and strengthening the support system that serves individuals and families across our city.
On Monday, July 28th more than 50 people from our partner organizations gathered with us to share a meal and ideas of ways we can continue to support one another during these times of uncertainty.
We are grateful to Cristo Rey Jesuit High School for once again providing space and showing such wonderful hospitality. Thank you for continuing to walk alongside us in this work!
| | Community Partner Directory | | |
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Whether you were able to attend our Annual Community Partner Luncheon or not, we want to stay connected!
As part of our ongoing commitment to collaboration, Taller de José is building a Community Partner Directory, a shared resource to help us all stay informed, connected, and better equipped to serve our communities.
If your organization hasn’t filled out the form yet, we invite you to take just a few minutes to tell us more about what you do and how we can stay in touch. We will be sharing these responses with all of you.
| Together, we can build stronger networks, share resources, and deepen our collective impact. Thank you for being part of this vital work! | | | “They have always been there when I needed them." - 15 year client of TDJ | | | |
From Uncertainty to Strength
In 2010, Diana* came to Taller de José seeking help. Due to various health issues, she had been unable to work for years, and she had no family nearby to assist her in navigating the complicated healthcare and public benefits system. She needed help writing a letter to serve as proof of address for her public benefits application. The letter was the start of what would become a lengthy paperwork process we would help her navigate.
After that situation was resolved, Diana reached out again...
*Client's name has been changed for privacy
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CSJ Summer Interns
The Congregation of St. Joseph offers
a “Leadership through Ministry” internship each summer for young adults. This year, we were fortunate to have two of our college interns, Jeanette Sanchez and Isabella Velazquez, continue with us through the summer, working at TDJ four days a week and spending one day a week with Sr. Pat Bergen, CSJ, deepening their leadership skills and exploring the deeper meaning of service and nonprofit work through the lens of faith. We are so grateful they were able to extend their time at TDJ! Keep an eye out in early 2026 for next year's application!
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TDJ has a brand-new online look! After a busy month of planning and building, our new website is live. We’re proud to have a space that better reflects our mission, our services, and the heart of our work.
Please explore our updated information about who we are, what we do, and how to get involved—with more updates coming soon.
Please provide any feedback or suggestions. We hope you love it as much as we do!
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This past April, Taller de José hosted our 16th annual Builders Day, a celebration of the supporters and partners who help make our mission possible. More than 160 new and long-time friends and neighbors joined us for brunch to raise $50,000 to support TDJ's mission!
We are so grateful to the Congregation of St. Joseph, our Architect sponsor, for their generous support and presence. To all of our sponsors, our in-kind donors, and all those who joined us and contributed to a powerful afternoon of connection and community - a huge thank you!
MARK YOUR CALENDAR & SAVE THE DATE
for Builders Day 2026 - Sunday, April 26, 2026.
More details to come in the months ahead. We hope to see you there! Visit our website to learn more about the significance of Builders Day and view photos from the event!
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Builders Day 2025 Honorees | Builder Awardee, Patrick Green, EdD, Executive Director, CELTS; TDJ Executive Director, Elizabeth J. White; Accompaniment Awardee, Kolbe House Jail Ministry's Executive Director, Mark McCombs; and Companion Awardee, Liz Figueroa, Sarah's Inn. | |
Two of our Three Founders! | Two of our Founders, Sisters Kathy Brazda, CSJ, and Carol Crepeau, CSJ, were front and center at this year's Builders Day Celebration. We missed our other Founder, Most Reverend Robert (Bob) Casey, who was busy in his brand new role as Archbishop of Cincinnati! | | | | |
When you give monthly, you help sustain the heart of Taller de José’s mission — one client, one journey at a time.
Whether it’s providing safe accompaniment to vital appointments, supporting individuals on their path to citizenship, or training the next generation of compassionate leaders, your ongoing support makes it possible.
Every monthly gift, big or small, helps us walk alongside our neighbors with dignity and care.
Become a monthly donor today and be part of something lasting.
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