A Neighbor Among Neighbors

A New Book Commemorates 150 Years of Chicago’s Erie Neighborhood House — Serving Immigrants, Neighbors, and Championing Social Justice

MIPJ: Media, Information, International Relations and Humanitarian Affairs will be releasing a comprehensive history of Erie Neighborhood House (ENH) on October 15, 2020. Written by Maureen Hellwig, Ph.D. (University of Illinois at Chicago), a former volunteer and employee of ENH, the book is a commemoration of its 150th year of service to five generations of immigrants as “a home with no borders.”

According to Gary Johnson, CEO of the Chicago History Museum, “This masterful work tells how enduring values have allowed a settlement house to be an open door and a community voice to a succession of immigrant groups for 150 years — and counting. What is particularly valuable and unusual is that the analysis is equally insightful for every period, including the present.”

While many think of Jane Addams and Hull House when thinking of the Settlement House movement, Hellwig wanted to emphasize the role of Erie House, given its own history.

“While the origins of Erie Neighborhood House pre-date the founding of Hull House, there is no doubt their work as a settlement house was greatly influenced by Jane Addams…