August 2025

HACES Soars into the New School Year!

Support Your Community

Our second annual Soaring Into School Fair, held on Friday, August 8, was a huge success! Thanks to the incredible generosity of our community, we distributed 230 backpacks and helped families connect with 31 amazing community organizations offering essential school-year support.

Last year, we distributed 100 backpacks. This year, we more than doubled that number! 

The Soaring Into School Fair is made possible through the collaboration of HACES’ Parent Mentor Program and the Immigrant Family Resource Program (IFRP).

• The Immigrant Family Resource Program (IFRP) connects families with health services and public benefits, promoting healthier, more empowered communities.
• The Parent Mentor Program addresses equity gaps in Black and Latino communities by training parents to volunteer in seven Waukegan elementary schools.

At HACES, we remain committed to our vision:

“To build a just and prosperous society where equal opportunity and representation are accessible to all.”

We’re deeply grateful to all the volunteers, sponsors, and community partners who supported this event. Your presence helped create a welcoming, informative, and fun experience for families. We couldn’t have done it without you!

Committed to Promoting Equal Opportunity and Accessibility for All!

2025 has been a busy year. As a community, we have come together like never before, uniting our resources to support and uplift as many individuals as possible.

HACES has had the honor and privilege of collaborating with various partners throughout Lake County to address pressing community needs. Among our most frequent outreach collaborations are with Erie Health / Northern Illinois Food Bank, Waukegan Public Library, Rosalind Franklin Community Health, and Avon Township.

From January to July, HACES participated in 51 outreach events, engaging with 2,897 community members to share information about our services. In addition, we have prioritized hosting Know Your Rights sessions in collaboration with local partners to inform and empower community members. Since December 2024, we have hosted four sessions across Lake County, including in Waukegan, Round Lake, Gurnee, and Zion.

We are proud of the work accomplished so far and remain committed to building a more informed, connected, and supported community for all.

Care in Action: New Know Your Rights Flyer is AVAILABLE NOW!

Protect yourself, protect your loved ones.

HACES is proud to launch our new Know Your Rights flyer, now available for download at www.HACES.org/KYR.

This flyer provides essential information on what individuals should do if approached by ICE officers -either at home or in public. It also includes practical tips to help protect your rights and stay prepared.

We encourage community members and partners to share this resource widely to ensure everyone stays informed and empowered.

Parent Mentor Program Recruiting Parents NOW!

As the new school year begins, HACES is excited to announce the addition of H.R. McCall to the Program! Our Parent Mentor Coordinators are actively recruiting for the 2025–2026 school year.

By volunteering in the classroom, Parent Mentors play a vital role in supporting students and teachers throughout the school year. Parent Mentors help address educational equity gaps by providing extra support where it’s needed most and identifying opportunities for improvement within the school community.

If you're a parent, grandparent, guardian, or know someone with a child attending one of the following seven Waukegan elementary schools, we invite you to join this impactful program:

• Carman-Buckner Elementary
• Glen Flora Elementary
• Glenwood Elementary
• H.R. McCall Elementary
• Lyon Magnet School
• North Elementary
• Whittier Elementary

Let’s work together to make a difference in our schools, one classroom at a time!

Job Opportunities at HACES

HACES is currently hiring for three exciting positions:

If you, or someone you know, is passionate about supporting immigrant communities, we encourage you to apply!

Help us spread the word by sharing these opportunities with your network.

Receive One-on-One Health Education with

Dr. Ringel TODAY!

Dr. Ringel holds regular office hours offering individualized health navigation services to community members. While he is a retired physician and cannot prescribe medications, he can:

1. Listen to your health concerns
2. Help explain your situation
3. Recommend possible next steps or resources

Where & When

• Waukegan Public Library: 1st and 3rd Thursdays of the month, 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM
• HACES Office: 2nd, 4th, and 5th Thursdays of the month, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

To schedule an appointment, call us at (224) 946-8015. Walk-ins are also welcome!

Help us spread the word, these services are open to everyone!

Upcoming September Schedule:

September 4: Waukegan Public Library, 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM

September 11: HACES, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

September 18: No Session; IFRP is out of the office 

September 25: HACES, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM 

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