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2025 & Beyond
WeGo Together for Kids remains committed to our mission to support and enhance the health, safety, learning, and well-being of West Chicago children and families through a collaborative, coordinated, and comprehensive approach.
Connecting our community, strengthening our families
2024
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WeGo Cooks program begins at District 94, with local chefs teaching students to prepare healthy meals.
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Seven new funders are secured for various programs and initiatives
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Community Events begin to connect families to new experiences and locations.
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Emerging need for mental health support results in new parent and teen trainings and five social work interns focused on wellness.
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Mobile Rx Food Distribution begins at Timber Lake Apartments. 160+ families served monthly.
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WGTK adds three staff positions – Housing Navigator, Early Childhood Manager and Program Manager.
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2023
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More than 60 agencies are active in WGTK.
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Communications Manager staff position added.
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Small Bites nutritional snack club expands to all District 33 schools.
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Playground at Main Park Apartments is built.
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The annual Back to School Event resumes in person and moves to Cantigny Park.
2021- 2022
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Governance charter approved by Steering Committee and partners.
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Transition of administrative sponsorship from District 33 to Metropolitan Family Services.
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Coordinator of Partnerships resigns.
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Full time Director is hired whose solely responsible is for WGTK.
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WGTK’s website launches.
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Major fire at Main Park Apartments activates WGTK partners to provide long term support.
2020
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WGTK Steering Committee begins working with consultant via Illinois Action for Children to develop governance charter
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During the pandemic, WGTK serves as a hub for funding, information sharing and community response.
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WGTK Partners respond to food accessibility needs by moving the WeGo Market to St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church. Hundreds of families are served weekly.
2019
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WGTK Founding Director resigns.
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Coordinator of Partnership position redesigned and oversees District 33’s Department of Partnerships and WGTK.
2016-2018
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Community School Coordinators and Family Liaison positions are created
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WGTK receives Siemer Institute funding for work involving children experiencing homelessness and academic achievement.
2014-2015
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Coordinator of Partnerships staff position created.
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WeGo Market opens at Leman Middle School.
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WGTK is awarded a federal Full Service Community Schools Grant for District 33
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WGTK identifies six key result areas: Academic achievement, Youth and family health, Stable families, Community engagement, Emergency preparedness and Early childhood.
2009-2011
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SS/HS grant ends but partners agree collaborative work is important and needs to continue.
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Collaboration has increased to 40 agencies. District 33 takes on administrative sponsor role and funds WGTK Director position.
2013
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WGTK becomes first suburban United Way of Metro Chicago Neighborhood Network (UWNN) and receives grant funds for staff and programs.
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Metropolitan Family Services becomes fiscal sponsor. District 33 continues at
administrative sponsor and houses staff.
2006
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First WGTK collaboration meeting held with 14 partner agencies represented.
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Community Mental Health Clinicians are hired to serve District 33 children and families.
2005
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Department of Justice Safe Schools, Healthy Students (SS/HS) grant awarded to District 33 focusing on violence prevention.
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WeGo Together for Kids Director (WGTK) is hired.
