Gads Hill Center

Specialties

Since 1898, Gads Hill Center creates opportunities for children and their families to build a better life through education, access to resources and community engagement.

Gads Hill Center families face complex issues as they strive to build better lives. Our programs address some of the most pressing challenges facing working families throughout Chicago, including lack of resources and education.

History

Established in 1898.

Gads Hill Center serves families in the communities of west and southwest Chicago with programming that provides early childhood education, academic support and enrichment, social-​emotional development and family support. Our programs include home visiting for pregnant mothers and young children, center-​based early childhood education, after-​school academic support, middle school mentoring and STEM-​focused college readiness for high school students.

Our vision is that all individuals, regardless of where they start, will achieve their full potential. We execute this vision by providing programs that respond to the changing needs of the families and communities that we serve. Since 1898, Gads Hill Center has continued to expand and grow to better serve children, youth and families.

Meet the Manager

Maricela G.

Manager

Maricela García is the Chief Executive Officer of Gads Hill Center, a community based organization founded in 1898 that creates opportunities for children and their families to build better lives through education, access to resources, and community engagement. Ms. García has more than twenty years of experience in nonprofit management leading organizations through start-​up, turnaround, and expansion.

Ms. García is the former Executive Director of the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights and founding Executive Director of the Latino Policy Forum. Prior to Gads Hill Center, she was the Director of Capacity Building and Juvenile Justice Policy at the National Council of La Raza.

Ms. García has been the recipient of several fellowships and awards, including the Chicago Community Trust Senior Leader Fellowship, National Hispana Leadership Institute Fellowship, Leadership Greater Chicago Fellowship, and Latinos of the Southwest Excellence in Leadership Award.