Over the last ten years, Beacon Place has always done what is needed to lift children, families, and a community.

While today’s problems loom especially large for those living on the margins, Beacon Place has been committed to helping provide the daily support that allows our families to continue to focus on the future.

What follows are stories of individuals who, in the face of those challenges, are continuing to move forward as a result of the programs and support from Beacon Place. Get to know these children, adults, and families and listen first hand to their experiences. With the guidance of our programs, and the impact of your support, these individuals are building their own brighter tomorrows.

Roger V. Rises to the Top and is Ready for the Future! Meet Roger V! Since Beacon Place’s founding year, Roger and his family have been integral members of our community. At the age of 8, Roger began his journey with Beacon Place by joining our Summer Lunch and Education & Enrichment program. As he grew older, he continued to actively participate in various initiatives, including LAUNCH for high school students, and our outdoor education trips with Chicago Voyagers. Roger and his family have truly embraced the diverse range of opportunities provided by Beacon Place throughout the years. Roger graduated this spring with a 4.0+ GPA from Carmel Catholic High School – a college prep school he was able to attend with the assistance of a Beacon Place scholarship! Throughout his senior year, he challenged himself by taking all honors classes demonstrating his commitment to academic excellence. In addition to his academic pursuits, Roger actively participated on the wrestling team and generously gave his time volunteering. His well-rounded achievements and contributions earned him an award for Excellence in Leadership. He was also selected to join an elite group of students from across the country to participate in a STEP UP/STEM program sponsored by Stanford University held in a remote format during COVID. We congratulate Roger on his impressive accomplishment and wish him well as he heads to the Milwaukee School Of Engineering next fall with an amazing scholarship that resulted from all of his hard work. “Beacon Place helped me see what kind of future was possible for me,” he said. “I can’t wait to build the next Tesla.” Beacon Place provided guidance, support and encouragement to Roger and his family for his dreams to become a reality and for their hopes to become his bright future. Congratulations Roger!

Charmaine and Taquwan –

The Next Chapter In A Story Of Hope

When Charmaine Jones moved to Waukegan three years ago, she wasn’t sure where to find activities for her nephew, Taquwan, who spent the summer months with her. Seeing the Beacon Place Summer Lunch and Camp around the corner from her apartment, she quickly enrolled him and they have been active ever since.

“When I think about what life would be like without Beacon Place, it breaks my heart. That’s how special this place has been to us as a family. It is the best thing that has happened to us since we moved to Waukegan.” – Charmaine Jones

When the pandemic hit, Taquwan spent the remainder of the school year in Waukegan. A sweet-natured little boy, Taquwan struggled with schoolwork but after spending a full year and a half in Beacon Place programs, Taquwan has made great progress. “Beacon Place has given Taquwan more opportunities to learn than he ever had before. He used to need a lot of help with every homework question, but now he is much more confident in reading and math,” Charmaine recently shared.

These haven’t been the only changes they have seen. Their apartment is now full of books, and Taquwan reads every day. “Before Beacon Place I didn’t like reading. But, coming here I re-learned how to like reading. If I don’t know a word, I don’t give up. I sound it out and keep trying. That’s what I have learned most, just to keep trying and practicing to get better,” said the tenacious 5th grader.

Taquwan is not the only one who has found support at Beacon Place. Through attending Parent Universities and working closely with staff, Charmaine learned how to be an effective advocate and partner in Taquwan’s education. Their family has received a world of resources from food and emergency support, to computer devices and better access to the internet.

Like the books that Taquwan pours through, Charmaine and her nephew are creating brand new chapters each day in their own life story. They have gained confidence that they can face life’s challenges head-on, equipped with knowledge, skills, and resources to move forward. That is what Beacon Place does best—gives families the tools they need to move toward their own brighter tomorrow, creating new chapters, new stories, new beginnings.

 

 

FERNANDO RUFFINO, age 18, Waukegan, IL

“Put yourself out there, take a chance, and turn that chance into an opportunity!”

These impressive words of wisdom come from Fernando Rufino, a high school senior, sharing what he would say to his fifth grade self.

“I was not a great student in fifth grade” he says.  “I was quiet, and didn’t really try much.”

But boy how times have changed.  Just before Christmas, Fernando was notified he was awarded a POSSE Scholarship to Connecticut College – a full tuition scholarship for all four years because of his outstanding achievements. He is one of a select group of students across the country to receive such an award. Somehow between fifth grade and senior year, he did learn to put himself out there, and he learned how to turn chances into opportunities.

Fernando is the oldest in his family, with three younger sisters – Melissa, 12, Ailin 8, and five year old Isabel, who all who look up to him as an inspiration. It was his mom that first brought the family to Beacon Place in 2018 when she found out about the community center through a friend. She came in the summer with her younger children and then learned about the year-round education and enrichment programs and knew it was the spot for her family.

Fernando had also heard about Beacon Place but always thought it was just for the younger kids.

“Around my house, if you say we are going to Beacon Place EVERYONE gets excited,” he says. “I didn’t know what it was all about until I was in high school and found out about their ACT Tutoring.”

While Fernando did not excel academically as a fifth grader, he found his footing in middle school and began to apply himself. He enrolled at Cristo Rey St Martin and has continued to excel academically taking honors and AP courses in high school.

Fernando also began to excl outside of the classroom. He pushed himself in extracurricular activities as well, excelling both as a musician and on the school soccer team. But it was at Beacon Place that he gained his real boost of confidence. He enrolled in the ACT tutoring and started signing up to volunteer. Working with Beacon Place staff he and his parents had one on one meetings to consider his plans after high school. He originally thought he might just stay close to home. But when the POSSE opportunity was explained to him and his parents, he became excited.

“I finally understood what the opportunity meant, and I wanted to give it a try.  I never really thought it would be a reality.  Beacon Place helped me apply and I just kept making it farther and farther until all of the sudden I was a finalist!”

 

As the first in his famiy to go to college, heading to Connecticut College next year is scary and Fernando is worried about missing his family and especially his mom’s home cooked meals. However one of his highlights of this past year has been the Beacon Place ZOOM cooking classes with Chef Ernie,  “ I will for sure not go hungry in college – I will miss my mom’s home cooking, but I have learned so much this year – I love cooking now!”

Just like so many others, Beacon Place feels like a second family to Fernando, his parents and his sisters. This big blue house on the corner connects them to so many people who care. People who are not related by blood, but are there when you need them most.

The Rufino’s didn’t know how much this would mean until mom Liliana was involved in a difficult accident, and the first place she called was Beacon Place. Rosa Vara, Client and Community Liaison at Beacon Place, rushed to help her and from there the family knew that a strong bond had been formed. This was a place you could turn and there would be support you could count on. Since that time, the support has never stopped. Not even in this difficult year.

For Fernando, this year has been challenging, but also so rewarding, “ I have learned to just keep trying and to put myself out there and take a chance. But it was my friends at  Beacon Place who showed me how to take that chance and turn it into an opportunity. Right now, I feel like the sky is the limit!”

Go get ‘em Fernando – the sky is not the limit  – reach for the stars!

 

 

DAISY RIOS,  age 8, Waukegan, IL

Finding her Voice…

Daisy Rios is an 8 year old with a twinkle in her eye and a ready smile. A quiet child that has blossomed while in the Education and Enrichment Programs at Beacon Place, she has come out of her shell over the last year.

According to her mother, Maria Garcia, Daisy was a bit delayed in her speech and was so quiet that she was identified as needing speech intervention when she was turning three.

“We do not have much family in Waukegan and I did not have her around other children, so I wasn’t aware she was far behind,” said her mother, Maria.

She immediately began working to get her daughter into intervention programs and assistance at school and by the end of kindergarten she was beginning to catch up.Yet her struggles continued. Daisy’s little smile had dimmed and she was not happy going to school, afraid that she wouldn’t be able to keep up with other students.

It was a school social worker that suggested Maria look into Beacon Place. She had seen other children and engaged parents connect with the community center and had witnessed the success that they had, and she thought it might be the right spot for the family.

Maria was a bit leary but agreed to give it a try in September of 2019 when Daisy was beginning first grade. Daisy arrived a bit reluctant, but soon warmed up to the one on one support and encouragement she received and was quickly attached to the staff and volunteers at Beacon Place. Maria watched as her daughter progressed. Seeing her engage in art and hands-on learning she watched her child with pride.

When COVID hit and remote learning began, Marie worried how her daughter would continue her progress but quickly saw how Beacon Place worked to continue to keep kids engaged with lots of hands-on learning – in packets that were sent home, and on site in small groups in the summer and fall. “Daisy loves art and is a very visual learner,” Maria explained. “She couldn’t wait to get the kit that we would pick up every Friday at Beacon Place with activities for the week and would grab the bag and run in to open it as soon as we got home each week!”

Daisy’s progress has been visible to everyone, “It has been a joy to watch Daisy open up, she was so quiet and we have just watched her find her voice and blossom under the one on one support she gets from our volunteer tutors,” expressed Wendy Feldhaus, Education and Enrichment Program Manager.

“Our entire family enjoys Beacon Place, including my husband and my four year old son, Brandon,” Maria said. “But most especially Daisy. We are all happy to go to distribution each Friday, it’s like visiting family when we see everyone and they greet all of us, but when we come home, it is Daisy who is most excited to open up her weekly package and work on her school work. She was just assessed at school and earned an 80% on comprehension which is a great increase and it is because of Beacon Place!” 

 

When a little girl finds her voice, her family – at home and at Beacon Place – get to watch her blossom.

Way to go Daisy!

STEPHANIE LAMAS, age 18, Waukegan, IL

“We can’t wait to see how far she goes!”

Joining some of the children who walked through the white picket fence at Beacon Place during the very first summer in 2013, was Stephanie Lamas. A sweet, quiet ten year old, with an open smile and wide brown eyes, she immediately connected with all of the people there – young friends her age, and the adult volunteers who welcomed her in.

“Beacon Place has been a part of my growing up,” she says. ” I knew Barb (LaFasto) and some of the others from when they worked at a food pantry near my home, so coming through that gate felt like coming to a friend’s house.”

Over the years she has grown up with a solid group of new friends at Beacon Place who attend different schools, have different interests, but have a common connection at this community center that feels like a second home. They are drawn to the diversity of experiences they get to have that have opened up their eyes to new possibilities for their lives. “I kept coming to Beacon Place because I was able to explore things that I liked, more deeply,” says Stephanie. “I have always loved art, but really got a chance to explore painting through things that we learned about art, trips to galleries, and a chance to explore it on our own at Beacon Place. One summer we were studying the Fibonacci sequence in nature, and tessellations in math, and I was able to interpret what we learned into a painting I gave to Beacon Place.” Experiencing new things alongside a group of peers has been one her favorite aspects of Beacon Place programs.

 

While learning new things has always been appealing to Stephanie, this year, as a senior in high school, it was time to decide where to direct her efforts in the future. After a health scare Stephanie accompanied a family member for some medical tests. In the process she was exposed to the role of a medical imaging specialist and was immediately drawn to the field. With guidance from Beacon Place, Stephanie is being accepted into a select into a competitive Medical Imaging program at CLC (College of Lake County).  Not one to wait, Stephanie is already getting ready for the program and will complete four dual credit courses this year before she graduates. This will set her on a path for an early completion of the program once she is enrolled next fall. Not many students start college with a full semester under their belt and this is only the start for this confident, goal oriented, compassionate young woman!

Stephanie has always had a close personal and mentoring friendship with Beacon Place co-founder and past Executive Director, Barbara LaFasto who recently commented, “I have watched Stephanie grow into this amazing, caring, smart young woman and I have no doubt that she will excel in anything she sets her mind on!  Behind her quiet confidence roars a determined, selfless and committed human being who will make a big difference in this world, and will be a shining light for others to follow. I can’t wait to see how far she goes!”

 

ROCIELY LOPEZ, age 17, North Chicago, IL.

“Fearless!”

While Rociely Lopez is tiny in stature, she is large in spirit.

“The one word that always comes to mind when I think of Rociely, is fearless,” comments Anne Durot, Program Manager at Beacon Place. “I have watched her grow over the last six years and I have seen her tackle every new challenge, surmount every obstacle with incredible courage and tenacity. There is nothing she can’t do!”  Arriving with her family at Beacon Place in the summer of 2013, Rociely, “Rocky” as she is known affectionately, was one of the first children enrolled in our programs and that was only the beginning of her many ‘first’ experiences.

During the first winter of afterschool programs, Rociely was concerned about potentially failing a social studies class and asked for help. Beacon Place responded to her request, giving her the support and guidance she needed. Seeing the same need in other students, this request led to the formation of what is now a year-round, education and enrichment program designed to meet students where they are, and get them on track for academic success. Since she first asked for a bit of help, more than 175 children have been enrolled in year-round education and enrichment programs at Beacon Place. Rociely no longer seeks academic assistance as an honors student with a full load of AP and advanced classes at Carmel Catholic. Instead she spends time tutoring and helping other younger students get the same sort of support and encouragement she needed.

“Beacon Place has exposed me to so many new things, new people, new perspectives that have opened up my eyes and given me a new view of what my future could be,” says Rociely.

Beyond academics, Rociely was also one of the first members of the TWEENS and LAUNCH groups for middle and high school students at Beacon Place.

In these programs, she has experienced opportunities that include learning to swim, sail, backcountry camp, ice skate, experience live theater, take a variety of field trips, enjoy cooking lessons, and more. Rociely is now a senior in high school planning for the future – with her greatest challenge how to choose among all of her interests. She has excelled in life sciences and is considering a career in a medical field, but wants to continue to pursue her dual language studies.  However, she also loves art and finds the lure of graphic design also compelling.

Rociely recently shared a motto she believes embodies her spirit, ‘Don’t be pushed around by the fears in your mind, be led by the dreams in your heart’.

“Beacon Place has given me the self-confidence to believe that all things are possible if I put my mind to it, so I guess I am fearless! I can’t wait to see what the future holds,“  Rociely Lopez, 17.

 

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ROGER VARGAS, age 15, Waukegan, IL

First up in our “Leading Lives Forward” features, Roger Vargas, a sophomore at Carmel Catholic in Mundelein.  Roger lives around the corner from Beacon Place and he and his family began attending programs in 2013, when he was eight-years old, so he has really grown up in this “second home.”

Through participating in the year-round Beacon Place education programs for the last seven years, Roger was selected for the GAP (gifted and accelerated) program in middle school, and then accepted into the honors program at Carmel Catholic High School. This year, he was one of eleven students selected  to participate in the NIH funded Stanford University STEP-UP Early High School Student Science Program for 9^th and 10^th grade high school students. The program is designed to provide a research experience for high school students from racial/ethnic groups and disadvantaged backgrounds underrepresented in biomedical and behavioral research fields. Only eleven students were accepted into this pilot which will run weekly through May 2021 via Zoom. Faculty and post-docs from Stanford University provide instruction  on research topics and the scientific process. Students will be required to come up with their own research project and give a final presentation to the faculty.  “We hope this program will catapult them (students) to pursue further research experiences including applying to the NIH/NIDDK Short-term Experience for Underrepresented Persons – STEP-UP program.” says Sheila McLaughlin, Program Director.  The Summer STEP UP Program is a national summer internship program for 11^th and 12^th grade high school students interested in science. Students work with mentors in research labs, and present their research presentations during a symposium held at the NIH at the conclusion of the program.

“I felt really honored and proud to be recognized by my teacher to be chosen to participate in this selective program,” Roger shared after one of his weekly sessions which last several hours after the school day ends. “I didn’t know much about these fields and now I am working on a research paper with a professor!”.

Nearly 70 percent of the students enrolled in Beacon Place programs are enrolled in private college prep high schools or in honors programs in their public school.

“I wouldn’t be where I am without the help of Beacon Place. They have helped me see what I am capable of, and what I can achieve.” Roger Vargas.