Victories/Impact LCU

Victories and Impact

In 2009, Lake County United created and launched Waukegan to College (W2C), a comprehensive family-oriented college readiness program targeting immigrant and low-income families inWaukegan. W2C serves more than 30 students and their families from 5th grade through college. By the end of the first year of the program, all 5 high school seniors enrolled in college. Through program activities including tutoring and test preparation, many students showed academic improvement.
Published Key Trends at Waukegan High School and the Waukegan Education Improvement Plan to draw attention to the on-going challenges in high school education in the county’s largest city.
Worked to build the capacity of Waukegan’s high-performing private schools that serve low-income students, such as St. Martin de Porres High School and Lion’s Math & Science Christian Academy in Waukegan.

Lake County United won approval for a new $31 million state-ofthe-art Winchester House, Lake County’s skilled nursing home. Approved 22 to 1 by the Lake County Board, this victory reversed talk of shutting down Winchester House altogether. Construction on the new building in Libertyville should begin in 2011 and serve roughly 180 lower-income elderly residents
Lake County United is working with the administrator of Winchester House to begin immediately introducing “Pioneer Practices.” Pioneer Practices are a high standard of resident-centered nursing care, designed to promote a living environment with the feel of a home, rather than an institution.
Lake County United published Aging Well in Lake County, a policy paper on Winchester House and the boarder issues and needs associated with aging with dignity in Lake County. See the Lake County United white paper Aging Well in Lake County (847KB .pdf).

Worked with the Lake County Health Department and others to create a Specialty Care Initiative to provide uninsured people with access to diagnostic tests and specialty care.
Supported efforts by our sister organization United Power for Action and Justice to establish Illinois’ FamilyCare health insurance program which provides affordable health insurance to over 100,000 working poor families.
Supported efforts by our sister organizations United Power for Action and Justice and PACT which enabled young adults in Illinois to remain on their parents health insurance plans up to their 26th birthday.

Worked with the Lake County Board to boost the affordable housing budget by 66% to $500,000.
Secured relocation assistance for displaced tenants at the Park Butterfield apartments in Mundelein.
Obtained a commitment from the Village of Libertyville to include 20% affordable housing in its School Street redevelopment project.
Prevented displacement of 252 immigrant families from Northshore Estates apartment complex in Highwood when developers proposed turning the buildings into condominiums.

Conducted a non-partisan voter registration drive that added 1,300 new voters to the rolls.
Partnered with the Fr. Gary Graf Center in Waukegan to help over 1,000 immigrants become U. S. citizens.
Conducted annual non-partisan candidate forums to educate Lake County United members on the positions of candidates and develop public relationships with elected officials.
Provided leadership training in a variety of formats to hundreds of area residents and clergy.